Once a year, amateur clubs from all over the country dream of glory — a chance to take on the big boys, to face a professional side, to match skills with the best South Africa has to offer.
There is one competition in the country that can turn such dreams into reality. That competition is the Absa Cup.
Who, for instance, has heard of a club called Bilika All Stars? On February 26, Bilika All Stars could become the talking point in South Africa soccer. On that day, the amateurs from Giyani take on arguably the biggest team in South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs.
And anything but an easy victory for the Amakhosi would be a huge upset and would certainly put the team from the North on everybody’s mind.
Besides All Stars, the first round of the Absa Cup will see other teams from the lower leagues competing, such as Cemforce, the Young City Stars, Sasolburg Juventus, Tornado, Ledwaba Power Stars and Beaufort West City, who were drawn against the 2003 winners, Santos.
The competition kicks off on February 25 with the clash between Wits University and Sasolburg Juventus. The next day, Ledwaba Power Stars face the might of Sundowns.
Then there are also a number of Premier Soccer League (PSL) team clashes, with Moroka Swallows against Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates against Silver Stars topping the bill.
Defending champions Swallows and Ajax have, in recent years, been in the forefront of challenging for titles and both of them will fancy their chances in this year’s competition.
Swallows spokesperson Sipho Xulu was particularly upbeat after the draw.
”We are very happy with the draw. We came here with one thing on our minds — to defend the title, and that has not changed. It’s going to be tough, but we will pull through.”
For Pirates, the match against Stars offers an opportunity to avenge one of the most embarrassing moments in the colourful history of the club. In 2003, the Buccaneers were knocked out of the Absa Cup competition by Stars, who at the time were not campaigning in the top flight.
Pirates spokesperson Mickey Modisane is confident that they will be able to overcome Stars this time around.
”We are not the Pirates from then and under Kosta Papic we have found our form, as our league position indicates.”
There are two other matches in which a PSL side will definitely be knocked out. Bush Bucks and Bloemfontein Celtic, who were both promoted at the start of the season, were drawn against each other, as were Golden Arrows and Jomo Cosmos.
When the draw for the round of the last 16 is made after the match between Pirates and Stars, at least four names going into the hat will be of non-PSL sides and one of them will be a club that do not even play in the Mvela Golden League (first division).
Amateur club Tornado were drawn against Louisvale Pirates and for one of them the next round is bound to bring up one of the top guns of South African soccer.
The other ties involving no PSL side are: People’s Bank Spurs against Uthukela, Dangerous Darkies against Maritzburg United, and Winners Park against Cemforce.
Struggling Manning Rangers have an opportunity to gain some confidence by beating Pietersburg Pillars, while Supersport United go into their match against Hellenic as clear favourites.
The two final matches see Black Leopards face Young City Stars and Dynamos Durban Stars.
The draw for the next round will take place immediately after the Pirates and Silver Stars match at the Johannesburg Stadium. — Sapa