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Wikipedia / Carling Knockout Cup

The Carling Knockout Cup is a South African professional soccer knockout competition which comprises the 16 teams in the South African Premiership. It is the third of the three main cups administered by the PSL along with the MTN 8 and the Nedbank Cup. The competition was first held in 1982 as the Datsun Challenge, and in 2023 under its current sponsored name.

Format

The format used in this competition is the Knockout Stage phase. The competition will be played by 16 teams in a single knockout match.

A winner is decided after full-time (90 minutes). If the two teams playing against each other are still tied after full-time, then the match will go through to extra time. If the score is still tied, then the match will go to penalties. The winner of the match must be decided on the match day.

After the conclusion of the competition, the winner will play against a best-XI voted by the fans. The All-stars team must consist of 6 players from the first tier league and 6 players from the second tier, and a coach voted on by the fans.

Sponsorship

The competition was established in 1982/1983 and was first known as the Datsun Challenge. Under the new NSL regime in 1984, it became known as the JPS Knockout Cup. It used this name until 1992 when it became known as the Coca-Cola Cup. It was sponsored by the drinks manufacturer until 1996, when it was replaced by the Rothmans Cup which was changed back to the Coca-Cola Cup in 2001 due to the new rules regarding tobacco sponsorship in sport. Telkom became the new sponsors in 2006 until 2020. The 2020/21 edition was cancelled after the loss of the main sponsor and in August 2021 it was confirmed that the tournament would no longer be held, citing fixture congestion. However the competition resumed in the 2023/24 season following a new sponsorship deal with alcoholic beverage company Carling Black Label, being renamed the Carling Knockout Cup.

Competition history

Year

Winner

Score

Runner-up

Datsun Challenge

1982

Arcadia Shepherds

1–1(2–0)

Highlands Park

1983

Kaizer Chiefs

2–1

Wits University

John Player Special (JPS) Knockout Cup

1984

Kaizer Chiefs (2)

Durban Bush Bucks

1985

Wits University

Kaizer Chiefs

1986

Kaizer Chiefs (3)

Moroka Swallows

1987

Durban Bush Bucks

Orlando Pirates

1988

Kaizer Chiefs (4)

Jomo Cosmos

1989

Kaizer Chiefs (5)

Moroka Swallows

1990

Mamelodi Sundowns

Orlando Pirates

1991

Dynamos

Giant Blackpool

Coca-Cola Cup

1992

AmaZulu

Kaizer Chiefs

1993

Umtata Bucks

Santos

1994

Qwa Qwa Stars

Hellenic

1995

Wits University (2)

Orlando Pirates

1996

Umtata Bush Bucks (2)

Qwa Qwa Stars

Rothmans Cup

1997

Kaizer Chiefs (6)

Mamelodi Sundowns

1998

Kaizer Chiefs (7)

Mamelodi Sundowns

1999

Mamelodi Sundowns(2)

2–0

Free State Stars

2000

Ajax Cape Town

4–1

Orlando Pirates

Coca-Cola Cup

2001

Kaizer Chiefs (8)

5–0

Jomo Cosmos

2002

Jomo Cosmos

1–0

Kaizer Chiefs

2003

Kaizer Chiefs (9)

2-0

Silver Stars

2004

Kaizer Chiefs (10)

1–0

SuperSport United

2005

Jomo Cosmos (2)

1–1 (4–1 pen.)

SuperSport United

Telkom Knockout Cup

2006

Silver Stars

3–1

Ajax Cape Town

2007

Kaizer Chiefs (11)

0(3)–(2)0

Mamelodi Sundowns

2008

Ajax Cape Town (2)

2–1

Orlando Pirates

2009

Kaizer Chiefs (12)

2–1

Ajax Cape Town

2010

Kaizer Chiefs (13)

3–0

Orlando Pirates

2011

Orlando Pirates

3–1

Bidvest Wits

2012

Bloemfontein Celtic

1–0

Mamelodi Sundowns

2013

Platinum Stars (2)

2–1

Orlando Pirates

2014

SuperSport United

3–2

Platinum Stars

2015

Mamelodi Sundowns (3)

3–1

Kaizer Chiefs

2016

Cape Town City

2–1

SuperSport United F.C.

2017

Bidvest Wits (3)

1–0

Bloemfontein Celtic

2018

Baroka

2(3)–(2)2

Orlando Pirates

2019

Mamelodi Sundowns (4)

2–1

Maritzburg United

Carling Knockout Cup

2023

Stellenbosch (1)

1–1 (5–4)

TS Galaxy

2024

Magesi (1)

2–1

Mamelodi Sundowns

2025

Orlando Pirates (2)

1–0

Marumo Gallants

Results by team

Club

Wins

First final won

Most recent final won

Runners-up

Most recent final lost

Total final appearances

Kaizer Chiefs

13

1983

2010

4

2015

17

Mamelodi Sundowns

4

1990

2019

5

2024

9¹

Bidvest Wits/Wits University

3

1985

2017

2

2011

5

Orlando Pirates

2

2011

2025

8

2018

10

Ajax Cape Town

2

2000

2008

2

2009

4

Jomo Cosmos

2

2002

2005

2

2001

4

Platinum Stars/ Silver Stars

2

2006

2013

2

2014

4

Umtata Bush Bucks

2

1993

1996

0

–

2

Supersport United

1

2014

2014

3

2016

4

Bloemfontein Celtic

1

2012

2012

1

2017

2

Arcadia Shepherds

1

1982

1982

0

–

1

Durban Bush Bucks

1

1987

1987

1

–

2

AmaZulu

1

1992

1992

0

–

1

Dynamos

1

1991

1991

0

–

1

Cape Town City

1

2016

2016

0

–

1

Baroka

1

2018

2018

0

–

1

Stellenbosch

1

2023

2023

0

–

1

Magesi

1

2024

2024

0

–

1

Moroka Swallows

0

–

–

2

1989

2

Highlands Park

0

–

–

1

1982

1

Maritzburg United

0

-

-

1

2019

1

TS Galaxy

0

-

-

1

2023

1

Marumo Gallants

0

-

-

1

2025

1

Results by team

References