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Cape Town - Bloemfontein Celtic and Black Aces will meet in a cup match for the first time in a quarter of a century when they battle for a place in the Telkom Knockout quarter-finals.
The teams’ last cup meeting was in the 1990 Bob Save Super Bowl, with Aces winning 2-0 in Bloemfontein. Their previous meeting was a full 30 years ago in the second round of the 1985 Mainstay Cup, with Celtic winning 1-0 at home – these are the only two cup games between the teams in the NSL era (1985 onwards).
In all, the teams have crossed swords in 34 league and cup matches since 1985. Phunya Sele Sele have 14 wins compared to 10 for AmaZayoni, while 10 matches have been drawn.
Celtic will feel they have the edge over their Mpumalanga opponents, as Aces have not beaten Celtic in a competitive fixture since 1995 – a full two decades ago. Last season the teams’ two league fixtures saw a 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein before Phunya Sele Sele claimed a 2-0 win in the return game thanks to a brace from Frank Mhango.
Celtic, who won the Telkom Knockout in 2012 after a famous victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the final, were eliminated from the competition in the first round last season, going down 3-2 away to AmaZulu.
Aces, who have never won the League Cup in any guise, were also sent packing in the first round last year, going down 3-0 away to Ajax Cape Town.
Both teams have demonstrated exceptional form in the league so far this season.
While Celtic have claimed four successive wins heading into this fixture (their last outing was a 2-0 win away to University of Pretoria), Aces are unbeaten in their six Premiership matches and placed second on the log only because they have scored one goal less than leaders Platinum
Stars. AmaZayoni crushed Maritzburg United 4-1 in their last outing.
The fixture is set for Free State Stadium on Sunday, October 4.
Kick-off at 15:00.
