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Games galore as PSL clubs prepare for new season

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Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson. PHOTO: BackpagePix / Gallo Images
Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson. PHOTO: BackpagePix / Gallo Images

With the new season kicking off in the first week of August, most of the 16 Absa Premiership clubs have scheduled a series of preseason friendly matches to warm up for the new campaign.

Coaches will use preseason games at home and over the border to gauge their players’ fitness levels, try new and different combinations and, most importantly, dust away the off-season cobwebs.

There will be no rest for Orlando Pirates. They must get through several further preseason matches along with their gruelling CAF Confederation Cup ties.

After returning from Congo-Brazzaville this weekend, where they faced AC Léopards yesterday, the Buccaneers will host Egyptian giants Zamalek, possibly at Mbombela Stadium, on July 11. This will be followed by action every weekend.

Pirates and Chiefs will warm up for their annual Carling Black Label Cup on August 1 with a four-team tournament – the King’s Cup – at Swaziland’s Somhlolo National Stadium on July 18.

Chiefs face Mbabane Swallows and Pirates meet Swazi league champions Royal Leopards in the second semifinal of the R1 million competition.

The Buccaneers will then travel to Tunisia for a Confederation Cup clash with CS Sfaxien on July 25.

Pirates will follow that in the league programme with the MTN8 clash against Ajax Cape Town.

. In Rustenburg, Platinum Stars, Bloemfontein Celtic, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Botswana outfit Township Rollers will do battle in the Bokone Bophirima Maize Triangle Challenge on July 11.

Stars will take on the visitors at 9am while Celtic entertain Aces in the second semifinal at noon.

The final will take place at 4pm.

. In Cape Town, Ajax will face Portuguese team Sporting Clube de Portugal while Gordon Igesund’s SuperSport United will take on English Premiership side Crystal Palace in the inaugural Cape Cup. The event is a two-day double header set for July 24 and 26 at the Cape Town Stadium.

. Mamelodi Sundowns’ players are expected back tomorrow to start with their preseason preparations. City Press has learnt that Sundowns will set up their base in Mpumalanga, where they are scheduled to play local clubs.

. Bidvest Wits, who resumed their preseason this week, have a friendly against newcomers Jomo Cosmos at Bidvest Stadium tomorrow.

. Free State Stars’ general manager, Rantsi Mokoena, said they had organised a camp in Lesotho, where Ea lla Koto will also play a few friendly games. Stars will hold another camp in Gauteng.

Other clubs are still finalising their programmes

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