An explanation has been given to how the newly formed DStv Compact Cup will work after some confusion amongst supporters.
In a bid to keep the interest of local football alive during the mid-season break due to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and DStv have formed a new ‘innovative’ tournament.
Watched by fans, dictated by fans. The control is given the the viewers as players from each of the 16 top-flight sides will be split up in teams broken up into four streams.
All players not heading to AFCON and fit will be eligible to be selected as viewers will create new team names and draft players and coaches for the even that will take place between 22 and 29 January.
MultiChoice stated that the tournament won’t clash with the AFCON schedule and will enhance the viewing experience and schedule for football lovers.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews, who’s also a member of the PSL Executive Commitee broke down exactly how the tournament will work.
Two matches in terms of semi-finals and third-fourth play-off and a final. Four matches in total.
“The way they will be selected is in positions. So there will be squads of 26 in each of the four regions, making it a total of 104 players. The principle of equality was very important to us so the representation will be equal,” he said.
“In other words, five players from each of the four regional squads, that makes 20 players, then four Diski Challenge players, one from each team per region.
“So everyone gets one Diski player in there, that makes 24 and then the two goalkeepers, the most voted keepers from the four teams of each region will be voted in – making a total of 26 players.
“Every regional squad will consist of the same number of players, broken down from an equal number of teams – so the principle of equality was important.
“The principle of development, in terms of the Diski Challenge players was important and equal amongst all teams. Then in terms of positions, there will be eight defenders, eight midfielders and four forwards per squad – that’s how the 20 names will be spread there plus two goalkeepers and four Diski Challenge players.
“So when the public vote, they will be voting for the eight defenders, eight midfielders and four forwards, two goalkeepers and also for the one Diski player per each team. So everything comes from the viewers choice.”
There is set to be two matches in each stream which will be labelled as a semi-final, a third-fourth play-off and a final making it a total of four matches – dates, times and venues have yet to be formally confirmed.
