2023/24 Carling Knockout
Semi-finals
2-3 December 2023
With all the sharks having left the waters, AmaZulu, Richards Bay, Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy will have no better chance to win silverware as the last four teams left standing in the
Carling Knockout.
DStv Premiership strugglers Richards Bay host Stellenbosch in the first semi-final at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, December 2.
The Natal Rich Boyz are second from bottom in the league standings after winning just two of their opening 13 matches, although morale will be up in the camp following the 0-0 draw with Orlando Pirates on November 25.
Kaitano Tembo's side eliminated the Buccaneers on penalties in the quarter-finals, having beaten Moroka Swallows 2-1 in the opening round of the competition.
Tembo is seeking a cup tonic to further boost the confidence of his players as he believes reaching the final could be the turning point in their season.
"I think if we can go to the final that would also change our season in the league... bring that confidence," he said.
"It is important that we start moving up the table. The cup run has helped us a bit because you see that we've collected four points in our last two league games and I think it's because of the confidence we take from doing well in the Carling Knockout."
The Maroons will be hoping for a case of third time lucky after they bowed out in the semi-finals of the 2022 Nedbank Cup and the 2023 MTN 8.
Steve Barker's side have found Durban a tough place to travel to, having finally registered their first win in the city since 2016 when they edged AmaZulu 1-0 in the league on November 25.
Barker admits the humid conditions are a challenge for his players, but reckons the triumph over Usuthu has given them the belief that they can repeat the feat against Richards Bay.
"We don't get this humidity that we experience in this game," he said. "It's always been a difficult place to come and we have to get used to it. We are here for another two matches.
"We are here next week with Richards Bay and if we can pass that difficult hurdle, then we are back here for the finals. It's nice to break that duck and it will give us confidence and belief that we can do it again."
AmaZulu will look to stay in contention for their first trophy since 1992 when they lock horns with TS Galaxy in the second semi-final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday, December 3.
Usuthu won the cup competition 31 years ago in it's previous iteration as the Coca-Cola Cup and they came close to ending that barren spell in 2022 after losing 1-0 to Pirates in the MTN 8 final.
Pablo Franco's side knocked out Kaizer Chiefs (1-0) in the round of 16 and then dispatched local rivals Golden Arrows (3-0) in the last eight, with the Spanish tactician keen to etch his name into the club's annuls.
"This is the most important game this season and we are ready to make history and we will start thinking of what is coming next because there are also positive things that we can take from the match," Franco said after the narrow loss to Stellies.
The Rockets caused the upset of competition when they sent favourites Mamelodi Sundowns packing in the round of 16 before needing penalties once more to get past Sekhukhune United in the quarter-finals.
Galaxy have only been around since 2015 and made history four years later as they won the Nedbank Cup by defeating Kaizer Chiefs in the final, becoming the first team to lift the trophy while competing in the National First Division.
Sead Ramovic's side arrested a two-game losing streak in the league when they ran out 3-0 victors against Polokwane City on November 26 to give themselves a timely boost for the cup-tie.
Carling Knockout semi-final fixtures:
Saturday, December 2
15h00: Richards Bay v Stellenbosch
Sunday, December 3
15h00: AmaZulu v TS Galaxy
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