The Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 is set to kick off on Wednesday evening with few players that will miss the action due to suspension.
TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns will kick off the new CKC at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday evening. Downs are the last club to win Knockout Cup, which was last held in 2019 under the Telkom sponsorship, lifting the trophy after beating Maritzburg United in the final in Durban.
Masandawana will miss midfield maestro Teboho Mokoena, as he is suspended after receiving his fourth yellow card against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final. But he would be likely unavailable for selection anyway, because he’s one of seven Sundowns players in the Bafana Bafana squad to take on Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Tuesday evening.
But Sundowns’ CKC game was scheduled for Wednesday in order to allow Masandawana to take part in the quarter-final of the inaugural African Football League where they will face Petro de Luanda on Saturday.
Meanwhile, AmaZulu will miss Abbubaker Mobara for their Carling Knockout clash at Kaizer Chiefs. Usuthu already faced Amakhosi this season, suffering a 3-0 defeat. Mobara will miss Saturday’s clash due to suspension after he was sent off for violent conduct against Moroka Swallows.
Another KwaZulu-Natal based side, Richards Bay will be without their new signing Sinethemba Mngomezulu as he was sent off in a match against Polokwane City after a bad tackle. Vusi Sibiya of the Birds is also set to miss the Round of 16 clash between Bay and Swallows on Sunday
Meanwhile, Cape Town City will face Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday, but will be without Cameroonian midfielder Brice Ambina.
SuperSport United has already felt the absence of Thulani Hlatshwayo after he was sent off in a match against Chippa United and Matsatsantsa ended up losing the match. He will also miss the Carling Knockout clash against Polokwane City.
