It's AmaZulu against Arrows in Cup

Carl Peters|Published

A club from Durban is to appear in the final of a knockout competition for the first time since the Premier Soccer League was launched in 1996.

This comes after local teams AmaZulu and Golden Arrows were yesterday drawn to face each other in the semi-finals of the lucrative MTN8 knockout.

The first of two legs will be played this coming Sunday, with the other semi-final featuring Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

AmaZulu and Ajax were drawn at home first.

"Unfortunately, there won't be an all-Durban final, but we don't mind playing Arrows," said AmaZulu coach Neil Tovey.

"At the semi-final stage, any opposition will be tough to beat."

Tovey hopes to have new signing Sibusiso Hadebe ready to play this week after the diminutive midfielder from Thanda Royals missed the first two games of the season through injury.

Said Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi: "As a local derby, it's going to be a very tough one. AmaZulu did well against us last season and will again come at us in this Cup match. We did not play well in our league match against Swallows at the weekend, so we are going to have to up our game this week."

Arrows have not tasted glory in any competition since winning promotion into the big league in 2000, while AmaZulu last lifted a trophy in 1992 when they won the old Coca-Cola Cup.

The second leg of the semi-finals will take place next weekend and the final is scheduled for September 26.