The Carling Knockout Cup final will be played this month on 23 November, where a new champion will be crowned. here is a look back at the tournament’s history, writes Nick Said.
FORTY-TWO YEARS OLD
The competition was first played in 1982 as the Datsun Challenge, with the winners being the Arcadia Shepherds, who defeated Highlands Park 2–0 in a replay after their initial match had finished 1–1.
The biggest winning margin in a final was 5–0 when Kaizer Chiefs defeated Jomo Cosmos in 2001. The final was played over two legs between 1984 and 1990, before this was scrapped and it returned to a single game. The tournament fell off the calendar in 2020 but returned in 2023.
CHIEFS TRADITIONALLY ON TOP
Kaizer Chiefs are the most successful club in the tournament’s history, winning 13 of their 17 deciders.
But the last time they lifted the trophy was in 2010, so it has been a long wait for AmaKhosi.
The next most successful side is Mamelodi Sundowns with four wins, which shows just how dominant Chiefs have traditionally been. Sundowns’ last final was played as the Telkom Knockout in 2019 when they beat Maritzburg United 2–1, though many believe coach Eric Tinkler’s side were unlucky that day.
HUNDRED PERCENT RECORD
Umtata Bush Bucks are the only side to have played in more than one final and won them both.
They claimed their two victories in 1993 and 1996, beating Santos and QwaQwa Stars (later Free State Stars) respectively.
AmaZulu, Arcadia Shepherds, Baroka FC, Cape Town City, Dynamos and Stellenbosch FC have all won the only final they have played.
EARLY SUCCESS
Kaizer Chiefs reached the final in seven of the first eight years in which the tournament was played.
They won seven of those but lost to Wits University 2–1 in a replay after the first two games had finished 2–2 on aggregate in 1985.
NO LUCK
Seven clubs have reached the final but never won – Moroka Swallows (twice), Giant Blackpool, Hellenic, Highlands Park, Maritzburg United, Santos and TS Galaxy.
Only Galaxy will have the chance to right that wrong in 2024 after they lost last year’s decider on penalties to Stellenbosch FC.
PIRATES IN A SINKING SHIP
Orlando Pirates, by contrast, have a poor record in the competition, reaching nine finals and winning just one, when they defeated BidVest Wits 3–1 in 2011.
Their most recent decider was a shock loss on penalties to Baroka FC in 2018.
It is easily the worst conversion rate in the competition, making this comfortably Pirates most challenging piece of silverware to claim.
SHARED AROUND
There have been 10 different winners in the last 11 stagings of the competition.
Only Mamelodi Sundowns (2015 & 2019) have won it twice in that time, but other victors were Kaizer Chiefs (2010), Orlando Pirates (2011), Bloemfontein Celtic (2012), Platinum Stars (2013), SuperSport United (2014), Cape Town City (2016), BidVest Wits (2017), Baroka FC (2018) and Stellenbosch FC (2023).
COMEBACK KINGS
The biggest comeback in a final was when Bush Bucks trailed Orlando Pirates 3–1 from the first leg in 1987, but then went to Soweto and won 2–0.
There were no away goals in those days, so that forced a replay which Bush Bucks claimed 2–1.
PENALTY PAIN FOR SUNDOWNS
Mamelodi Sundowns have lost four finals of this competition, three of them after penalty shoot-outs against Kaizer Chiefs!
They were edged on spot-kicks by AmaKhosi in 1997, 1998 and 2007.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The full list of names for the competition, in order, are Datsun Challenge (1982–1991), Coca-Cola Cup (1992–1996), Rothmans Cup (19972000), Coca-Cola Cup again (20012005), Telkom Knockout (2006–2019) and Carling Knockout (2023–present)
