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 YearWinnerScoreRunner-upDatsun Challenge1982Arcadia Shepherds 1–1(2–0) Highlands Park1983Kaizer Chiefs 2–1 Wits UniversityJohn Player Special (JPS) Knockout Cup1984Kaizer Chiefs (2) Durban Bush Bucks1985Wits UniversityKaizer Chiefs1986Kaizer Chiefs (3) Moroka Swallows1987Durban Bush BucksOrlando Pirates1988Kaizer Chiefs (4) Jomo Cosmos1989Kaizer Chiefs (5) Moroka Swallows 1990Mamelodi SundownsOrlando Pirates1991DynamosGiant BlackpoolCoca-Cola Cup1992AmaZuluKaizer Chiefs1993Umtata BucksSantos1994Qwa Qwa StarsHellenic1995Wits University (2) Orlando Pirates1996Umtata Bush Bucks (2) Qwa Qwa StarsRothmans Cup1997Kaizer Chiefs (6) Mamelodi Sundowns1998Kaizer Chiefs (7) Mamelodi Sundowns1999Mamelodi Sundowns(2) 2–0Free State Stars2000Ajax Cape Town 4–1Orlando PiratesCoca-Cola Cup2001Kaizer Chiefs (8) 5–0Jomo Cosmos2002Jomo Cosmos1–0Kaizer Chiefs2003Kaizer Chiefs (9)2-0Silver Stars2004Kaizer Chiefs (10) 1–0 SuperSport United2005Jomo Cosmos (2) 1–1 (4–1 pen.) SuperSport UnitedTelkom Knockout Cup2006Silver Stars3–1Ajax Cape Town2007Kaizer Chiefs (11) 0(3)–(2)0 Mamelodi Sundowns2008Ajax Cape Town (2) 2–1 Orlando Pirates2009Kaizer Chiefs (12) 2–1 Ajax Cape Town2010Kaizer Chiefs (13) 3–0 Orlando Pirates 2011Orlando Pirates 3–1 Bidvest Wits 2012Bloemfontein Celtic 1–0 Mamelodi Sundowns2013Platinum Stars (2) 2–1 Orlando Pirates2014SuperSport United 3–2 Platinum Stars2015Mamelodi Sundowns (3) 3–1 Kaizer Chiefs2016Cape Town City 2–1 SuperSport United F.C.2017Bidvest Wits (3) 1–0 Bloemfontein Celtic2018Baroka 2(3)–(2)2 Orlando Pirates2019Mamelodi Sundowns (4) 2–1 Maritzburg UnitedCarling Knockout Cup 2023Stellenbosch (1)1–1 (5–4)TS Galaxy 2024Magesi (1)2–1Mamelodi Sundowns 2025Orlando Pirates (2)1–0Marumo Gallants
Results by team +Results by team Club Wins First final won Most recent final won Runners-up Most recent final lost Total final appearancesKaizer Chiefs13198320104201517Mamelodi Sundowns419902019520249¹Bidvest Wits/Wits University319852017220115Orlando Pirates2201120258201810Ajax Cape Town220002008220094Jomo Cosmos220022005220014Platinum Stars/ Silver Stars220062013220144Umtata Bush Bucks2199319960–2Supersport United120142014320164Bloemfontein Celtic120122012120172Arcadia Shepherds1198219820 –1Durban Bush Bucks1198719871 –2AmaZulu1199219920 –1Dynamos1199119910 –1Cape Town City1201620160 –1Baroka1201820180 –1Stellenbosch1202320230 –1Magesi1202420240 –1Moroka Swallows0 – –219892Highlands Park0 – –119821Maritzburg United 0 - - 120191TS Galaxy 0 - - 120231Marumo Gallants0 - -120251
References
External links Telkom Knockout Cup official website Premier Soccer League South African Football Association RSSSF competition history