Cape Town - Cape Town City are set to make their debut in the PSL with a home fixture against Polokwane City, while neighbours Ajax Cape Town head for the Limpopo Province to take on newcomers Baroka FC.
The PSL released the fixtures for 2016-17 season on Monday. The action kicks off on Tuesday, August 23, and continues the following day.
Only 14 of the 16 clubs will be action in the opening week because defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will be playing in the CAF African Champions League. All the games kick off at 7.30pm.
But it will be a big night for City, the Cape’s new PSL club. With John Comitis purchasing the franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces and relocating the team to the Mother City, this will be their opening match when they host Polokwane at the Cape Town Stadium on August 23.
“In my 20 years as a football administrator, I have never felt such a buzz and enthusiasm from Capetonians across all borders to support this team,” said Comitis. “My worry is that the limited 20 000 tickets we have made available for the match won’t be enough.
“But I am humbled by the support, and I can assure you the players can’t wait to do the city proud.”
The tickets for City’s debut game at the 2010 World Cup stadium in Green Point are likely to be available by the end of the week - and, according to Comitis, it’s best to get in early.
While City, because of their status as a new club, are currently the flavour of the month, this has allowed Ajax to slip below the radar. They’ve had an opportunity to go about their preparations without the glare of the media spotlight.
Nevertheless, there is a quiet sense of confidence as they head into the new campaign, opening up with an away fixture against Baroka.
It’s an encounter Ajax head coach Roger de Sa probably won’t relish all that much. Promoted as NFD champions least season, Baroka are an unknown quantity for the Capetonians. The Limpopo rookies will be eager to impress in their top-flight debut, with the result that Ajax will have to tread carefully. It’s a fixture that has “banana skin” written all over it.
With Sundowns on Champions League duty, the spotlight falls on last season’s runners-up, Wits, to headline the opening round of fixtures. The Students have a tricky opener against Kaizer Chiefs.
Chiefs, after a disappointing time of it last season, have overhauled their squad, getting rid of the deadwood and ushering in a host of fresh new stars. The Soweto side will be determined to put in a much improved effort this time.
The PSL season is scheduled to close on Saturday, May 27, next year.
Cape Argus