Wits, Chiefs renew cup rivalry

Gustavo Paez of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Sifiso Hlanti of Bidvest Wits during the Absa Premiership 2016/17 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg South Africa on 27 May 2017 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Nov 17, 2017. 09:30

Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs will write another chapter in their extensive cup history when they meet in the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout at Bidvest Stadium on 18 November 2017, kick-off at 15h30.

Wits and Chiefs have met in no less than 28 cup matches since 1985: the Soweto side have claimed 14 wins in the rivalry compared to seven for the Johannesburg side (who have also side claimed four victories via a penalty shootout).

The teams’ last cup meeting was in the 2014 Nedbank Cup semifinals, where the match ended 2-2 before Wits went on to win via post-match spot kicks, while the pair last crossed swords in the Telkom Knockout back in 2012 in a match which saw the Clever Boys claim a narrow 3-2 win.

Overall, the teams have met in 91 matches across all competitions since 1985. Chiefs have claimed 45 wins compared to 19 for Wits, while 27 matches have been drawn. The teams have met once already this season, playing out a 1-1 draw in a league clash back in September: Siphiwe Tshabalala opened the scoring for the Amakhosi, but the Clever Boys hit back late on through Amr Gamal.

Wits earned their place in the semifinals thanks to victories over Free State Stars (4-2 after extra time) and Baroka FC (1-0) in the last 16 and quarterfinals respectively. The Clever Boys are two-time League Cup champions, claiming the trophy in 1985 and 1995, and will fancy their chances of a first title in the Telkom Knockout era if they can overcome the Soweto giants.

Chiefs, meanwhile, overcame AmaZulu (3-0) and Chippa (1-0) in the last 16 and quarterfinals respectively to claim a place in the final four of the 2017 TKO. The Soweto giants have won a record 13 League Cup titles (three of them in the TKO era), though their last triumph was in the 2010/11 season.

The winners of this match will go on to face either Polokwane City or Bloemfontein Celtic - who meet at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, 19 November - in the final next month.