Holders Magesi FC shot stopper Elvis Chipezeze hopes for a repeat of last season’s Carling Knockout tournament triumph. Photo: Sipho Siso

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Magesi FC shot stopper Elvis Chipezeze has vowed that his side will do all it takes to defend the Carling Knockout after it was drawn against AmaZulu in the opening round of the fixture.

The Premier Soccer League is still yet to announce the dates, venues and times for the commencement of this cup tournament after consultation with sponsors Carling Black Label as it has a voting element attached to it, where imbibers will go online to select the names of players to form the All Stars side from the 16-team League, that will also include outstanding players of the premiership’s Reserve League, known as the Diski Challenge.

Speaking in an interview after the competition draw, Chipezeze, who managed to shutout marauding Orlando Pirates forwards with miraculous saves in last season’s tournament, said; “I am looking forward to a repeat of our last year’s form in the cup and hope we can go all the way again to keep the trophy.

“We had a good run in that competition, and I just hope we replicate it and make the Carling Knockout our own cup too just like others [Orlando Pirates] have done in the MTN8, winning it a record four times in succession. It will be a good present for our fans, and I can assure them that we will do all in power to defend the trophy,” Chipezeze told Sipho Siso News.

Magesi embarrassed big guns such as league specialists Mamelodi Sundowns in the final and the MTN8 specialists the Mighty Buccaneers in the opening game of the fixture. “We want to prove to our detractors out there that our trophy win was not a fluke but a resolute outcome of our hard work and determination, along with our 12th man on the pitch which is our fans,” the Zimbabwean shot stopper said.

Meanwhile, a seemingly resurgent Kaizer Chiefs which is one of the unbeaten sides so far in the five opening fixtures of the Betway Premiership, is set to collide with Stellenbosch FC while the Buccaneers will be home to newcomers in the league – Siwelele FC, which bought the league status of now defunct SuperSport United.

A resurgent Kaizer Chiefs keeper Brandon Petersen looks forward to side to translate current premiership form to the Carling Knockout. Photo: Sipho Siso

AmaKhosi keeper Brandon Petersen hoped his side can translate the opening season’s show of form into the cup games. “If we can continue the good run of form, I am certain we can all the way in this cup tournament. I keep my fingers crossed we do just that and begin to collect trophies just as we did during the years of ‘operation vat alles’, where we won everything that was on offer,” Petersen told Sipho Siso News.

The entire draw is as follows: AmaZulu versus Magesi FC; Mamelodi Sundowns versus Marumo Gallants; Orbit College versus TS Galaxy; Durban City versus Polokwane City; Richards Bay versus Chippa United; Orlando Pirates versus Siwelele FC; and Lamontville Golden Arrows versus Sekhukhune United.