Defending champions Richards Bay will begin their title defense against Durban City FC following the official KZN Premier’s Cup draw conducted in Durban on Thursday.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday, 24 July, at the Princess Magogo Stadium with three highly anticipated knockout encounters.
The day opens with Lamontville Golden Arrows taking on Motsepe Foundation Championship side Milford FC. Following that, the Natal Rich Boyz will lock horns with Durban City.
Saturday’s action concludes with a standalone quarter-final fixture between AmaZulu FC and regional amateur side Midlands Wondrous. Due to the structure of the tournament draw, both Usuthu and Midlands Wondrous received a bye past the initial play-off stage, advancing directly into Sunday’s final-four bracket.
The tournament shifts to the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday, 25 July, for the business end of the competition. The morning features a single semi-final match between the winner of Golden Arrows vs Milford and the winner of Durban City vs Richards Bay.
The victor of that match will progress to the grand final at 16:00, where they will meet the winner of Saturday’s AmaZulu vs Midlands Wondrous clash.
To safeguard players against early-season fatigue, tournament organizers have scrapped extra time entirely. If any match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it will head straight to a penalty shootout.
Furthermore, teams will be permitted to utilize up to seven substitutes to effectively manage player workloads. Richards Bay enter the competition looking to defend the crown they captured for the very first time last season.
Official KZN Premier’s Cup Schedule
Saturday, 24 July: Princess Magogo Stadium
-
Match 1 (Playoff): Golden Arrows vs Milford FC — 10:00
-
Match 2 (Playoff): Durban City vs Richards Bay — 13:00
-
Match 3 (Quarter-Final): AmaZulu vs Midlands Wondrous — 16:00
Sunday, 25 July: Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
-
Semi-Final: Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2 — Time TBC
-
Tournament Final: Winner Semi-Final vs Winner Match 3 — 16:0
