KZN clubs brace themselves for Premier’s Cup

The 2019 KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Cup will take place in Durban this weekend with Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela welcoming the competitive game-time for his players.

The seven-team pre-season tournament comes just one week before the start of the new South African football season and will see all the province’s seven professional teams participate. Arrows have a bye in the opening round so do not play on Saturday, but they enter the competition at the semi-final stage on Sunday.

Komphela says his players need to play games as the new campaign looms.

The sixth edition of the Premier’s Cup will be played at two venues, the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on day one and the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on day two.

It kicks off with three quarter-finals, the first being National First Division club uThongathi FC against AmaZulu FC, followed by Richards Bay versus Real Kings and Royal Eagles then taking on Maritzburg United.

Arrows will play the winner of the uThongathi-Usuthu fixture in the first semi on Sunday.

AmaZulu, meanwhile, will be looking to build on winning another pre-season event, the Msunduzi Cup in Pietermaritzburg a week ago, when they take to the field.

Last year, Usuthu won the competition and coach Cavin Johnson says the Premier’s Cup is something that will help their preparations for 2019/20.

The Durban side start their Absa Premiership campaign against Bidvest Wits in Umlazi next Saturday.

Johnson, whose new players Lehlohonolo Majoro and Andre de Jong were on display a week ago, says he is still in the market for new players.

AmaZulu enjoyed a solid campaign last year when they narrowly missed out on the top eight and they will undoubtedly be looking to kick on in 2019/20. – Report by Thahir Asmal

KZN PREMIER’S CUP DRAW#MYTEAMMYPROVINCE #KZNPREMIERSCUP2019 pic.twitter.com/CXyWFG3rrq

— KZN Premier’s Cup (@CupPremiers) July 12, 2019