The Absa Cup, which starts on February 25, will present 32 teams with a chance to win R1,5-million while giving lower-division players a chance to showcase their skills against the Premier Soccer League teams.
The draw on Sunday was not kind to four premiership teams: Sundowns vs Chiefs, which has been said the final before the final; Hellenic vs Swallows; Pirates vs Leopards; and Ajax Cape Town vs Dynamos.
The defending champions of the Cup, Santos, will play lower-division team Steenberg, also from the Cape.
The owner of Santos, Goolam Allie, said: ”There is no easy draw in this tournament.”
The reason Allie said this could be because last season when Pirates drew Silver Stars — who were then still playing in the lower league — they got the surprise of a lifetime when they were beaten 2-0.
The winner’s cheque is R1,5-million with the runners-up taking home R900 000.
The players and charity are not left out in the cold in this tournament either. The player of the tournament will walk away with an Absa platinum account of R33 333.33 and a charity of his choice will also receive the same amount.
The first player to score a hat-trick (three goals)in a televised match will walk away with a platinum account with R33 333.00.
The draw:
Tembisa Classic vs Bafana FC
Durban Stars vs R&B 54
FC Fortune vs Manning Rangers
Louisville Pirates vs Zulu Royals
Orlando Pirates vs Black Leopards
Ajax Cape Town vs Dynamos
Sundowns vs Kaizer Chiefs
Santos vs Steenberg United
University of Pretoria vs Jomo Cosmos
Dangerous Darkies vs Golden Arrows
Mabopane Masters vs Roses United
Alexandra united vs Supersport united
Silver Stars vs Uthukela
Tornado vs Maritzburg United
Hellenic vs Moroka Swallows