Arrows draw Maritzburg United in KZN Premier’s Cup 2017 prelim

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The KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Cup Football Tournament makes a return to Richards Bay this weekend with all seven of the Province’s professional teams promising exciting football as part of their preparations for the upcoming new season.

The Premier’s Cup – funded by the Department of Sport and Recreation - was officially launched at Indaba Lodge in Richards Bay on Tuesday, 18/07/17, by MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Bongi Sithole-Moloi. The tournament will be held over two days at Umhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 July. The number of teams participating has increased to seven following the promotion of Uthongathi FC from the ABC Motsepe League (2nd Division) to the National First Division.

Action starts on Saturday with three matches taking place in the elimination round. Real Kings will play against Richards Bay FC in the first game at 10h00, followed by the mouth-watering encounter between Premiership rivals Lamontville Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United at 12h00. The last game of the day will see Amazulu taking on Uthongathi FC at 15h00. Winners of the three games will join defending champions Royal Eagles in the semi-finals on Sunday morning. The final match will be played at 15h00.

MEC Sithole-Moloi said the tournament is aimed at assisting KZN teams to prepare for the new season. She revealed that the Department is assisting the teams with an amount of R553 000 each to conduct their pre-season preparations.

“We want to encourage all our teams to develop more young players from the Province and offer them opportunities to play. It is only through developing our own players that our Province can become the main supplier of talent for our national teams. Through the Premiers Cup we want to make a difference by ensuring that teams from the Province get enough time and support to prepare for the new season,” she said.

Representatives of the clubs committed themselves to field their strongest teams as they seek to finalise combinations ahead of the 2017/18 season kick-off. There will be no extra-time in all matches. Matches ending in draw will go straight into penalty shootout.

Entry to the tournament is free on both days. Fans are encouraged to collect tickets from Umhlathuze and King Cetshwayo Municipal Offices as well as the Department’s offices in Richards Bay from Thursday.

MEC Sithole-Moloi urged football fans to come out in their numbers to support their teams.

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