It has been labelled the ”Cup of Dreams” by the sponsors’ enterprising marketing department. And, after a succession of ”dream draws” for earlier rounds of the competition, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Wednesday produced a couple of ”dream venues” for the Absa Cup semifinals.
After a good deal of deliberation by the cup committee, it was announced that Mamelodi Sundowns will play Kaizer Chiefs at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday April 29 and Classic will meet Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday April 30.
The PSL had avoided accusations of favouritism regarding the venues and came up with two stadiums that can be construed to be neutral ground under the uniquely complex conditions relating to home grounds in South Africa.
The officials of all four clubs expressed satisfaction with ”certain reservations” about the choice of grounds.
”You are always going to be faced with a massive crowd of Chiefs supporters no matter where you play in South Africa,” said Sundowns coach Neil Tovey, ”and under those circumstances, I don’t think we can complain about playing at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.”
Classic would probably have preferred Durban as a venue for their semifinal, but then King’s Park has been likened to a ”home from home” for the Buccaneers.
A curiosity of the draw is that while Sundowns have recently been prevented from playing their home games at Loftus, the Classic-Pirates match has received the green light.
Could it have anything to do with the fact that Loftus is under the aegis of Vodacom sponsorship, while Sundowns are backed by cellphone rivals MTN? — Sapa