The slogan for the PSL’s new Telkom Knockout competition promises ”it’s a whole new ball game” — and when it comes to cold cash it was patently clear the sponsors were not kidding when the tournament was launched in Johannesburg on Monday night.
The event, which kicks off at the end of the month, boasts a winners incentive of R4,25-million — a massive 70% increase on the PSL’s previous top money prize.
The runners-up prize will amount to a R1,75-million and even Premier League clubs losing in the first round of the competition will receive a R450 000.
The total prize money for the 16 teams will amount to R14,2-million and while it was not officially announced, a PSL official disclosed that the annual sponsorship would be worth about R30-million to the league.
”Soccer remains the country’s number one sport,” said Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane, whose company also sponsor the annual Telkom Charity Cup, ”and with this in mind we were determined to raise the bar to a level where it belongs”.
It will now be interesting to see whether the move has started a ”sponsors war” as PSL CEO Trevor Phillips is undoubtedly hoping, with others in the fold following suit.
Apart from the prize money, the Telkom Knockout will be almost identical to the Coca-Cola Cup, which it replaces on the PSL calendar.
The outcome of each tie will be decided on a single-game knock-out basis, with extra-time and penalty kicks the decider if necessary.
And the seeded draw for the initial round, which was made at Monday’s spectacular launch, immediately threw the cat among the pigeons.
Glamour clubs Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs were all drawn against clubs who have provided them with a succession of unexpected headaches in recent Premier League games.
League champions Sundowns are up against Amazulu, who held them to a draw, Pirates play Maritzburg United, who beat them in one of the stunning upsets of the season and Chiefs are pitted against Wits University in a repeat of the unsavoury occasion when supporters went on a spree of vandalism at the FNB stadium. – Sapa