Pirates and Gallants to battle for Carling Knockout title in Polokwane

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has officially announced that the New Peter Mokaba Stadium will be the venue for the highly anticipated 2025 Carling Knockout final.

The championship match will see Orlando Pirates take on Marumo Gallants on Saturday, 6 December, as they compete for the prestigious title in what is considered South Africa's equivalent of the League Cup.

The Road to the Final

The Buccaneers secured their place in the final by narrowly defeating Richards Bay FC in the semi-finals. Gallants, meanwhile, advanced after a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Golden Arrows.

The champions of the Carling Knockout will take home a lucrative R6.85 million prize, with the runner-up receiving a substantial R2.85 million.

Tournament History and Pedigree

This upcoming final will mark the third edition of the tournament sponsored by Carling. The inaugural Carling Knockout took place in 2023, when Stellenbosch edged past TS Galaxy on penalties to claim the title.

In a remarkable feat, Magesi FC claimed the Knockout trophy in 2024 during their debut season in the Betway Premiership, overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the final at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The tournament sees all 16 Betway Premiership teams go head-to-head in a single-elimination format. Known previously as the Telkom Knockout, this competition has a rich history, having been named under various sponsors over the years, including the Coca-Cola Cup, Rothmans Cup, John Player Special (JPS) Knockout Cup, and the Datsun Challenge. The last edition of the Telkom Knockout was held in 2019, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its inception in 1982, a total of 18 clubs have been crowned champions in its various forms. Notably, Kaizer Chiefs hold the record as the most successful team in the history of the League Cup, lifting the trophy 13 times (eight during the PSL era and five prior).

League Cup Evolution: A History of Sponsorships
- 1982 – 1983: Datsun Challenge
- 1984 – 1991: John Player Special (JPS Knockout
- 1992 – 1996: Coca-Cola Cup
- 1997 – 2000: Rothmans Cup
- 2001 – 2005: Coca-Cola Cup
- 2006 – 2019: Telkom Knockout
- 2023 – Present: Carling Knockout

The excitement continues to build as fans look forward to this compelling final clash.