JOHANNESBURG - KwaZulu-Natal is the place to be this weekend if you are sport loving person with some top class events lined up for the province's two big cities.
The action begins on Friday night at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg where Maritzburg United will host Platinum Stars in the first round of the Telkom Knockout.
The next stop is KwaMashu's Princess Magogo Stadium the following day (Saturday). There home side Lamontville Golden Arrows will host Orlando Pirates for a spot in the quarterfinals of the country's league cup.
While Abafana Bes'thende attempt to register their first ever knockout competition win over the Buccaneers, right in the heart of Durban an epic match of the oval ball format will have a significant part of the country in its grips.
The Absa Currie Cup final between the Sharks and Western Province is scheduled for a 4pm kick-off at Kings Park Stadium with the hosts looking for their first triumph in rugby's oldest competition since 2013.
As they walk out of the stadium, the Sharks and Province fans are likely to bump into followers of both Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu making their way into the Moses Mabhida Stadium just across Kings' Park.
Amakhosi and usuthu also clash in the first round of the Telkom Knockout. Metro Police spokesman Parboo Sewpersad says they are ready for the big sporting weekend.
“It is not the first we are hosting the two biggest sporting events in one day. We are used to such events," he said "It is important for people to park closer to the gates they are going to use to enter the stadium."
He warned they will not tolerate any ill-discipline.
"People who come to the matches under the influence of alcohol are in trouble because there will be plenty of roadblocks in and around the city. We are not going to tolerate any bad behaviour."
"We are also going to keep a close eye on the Durban beach front. We are aware that there will be plenty of after parties in this area," Sewpersad explained.
The big sporting weekend does not end on Saturday for KZN. There are two National First Division (NFD) matches on Sunday in which Real Kings host Umthatha Bucks at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium while Uthongathi will lock horns with Tshukuma at the Princess Magogo.
Indeed KZN is the place to be this weekend.