It will be a case of déjà vu for Orlando Pirates when they kick off another title defence after drawing top-flight newcomers Milford in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 draw on Wednesday.
South Africa’s League Cup is scheduled to get underway later in the month and will see the Buccaneers launching the defence of their title at the Orlando Amstel Arena. They will be welcoming the Stallions to Es’godini for the second time this season, having hosted the same side in their league season opener back in August.
The fixture will only be the second between Pirates and Milford and a historic first cup encounter between the two sides. It will also be the KwaZulu-Natal outfit’s debut in the competition, marking a significant chapter in their journey.
They are set for a solid test against the reigning champions, who will be looking to go back-to-back after ending a 14-year wait for League Cup glory by triumphing in the 2025/26 edition. The Soweto Giants will go into the tournament with the aim of finishing yet another year on the winners’ podium when they kick off its upcoming instalment, with their match against the Stallions adding to an already gruelling October schedule.
The opening round of the Carling Knockout is scheduled to get underway on the weekend of 24 October. The actual match dates and kick-off times will be confirmed by the League at a later stage.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
