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In South African football, few competitions stir the soul quite like the Carling Knockout Cup. It’s not just a tournament, it’s a proving ground. A place where reputations are built, dreams are shattered, and new heroes emerge from the shadows.
A Tournament of Moments
From Fezile Gcaba’s hat-trick for Durban City to Washington Arubi’s penalty shootout heroics for Marumo Gallants, the 2025 edition has already delivered unforgettable moments. It’s a reminder that in knockout football, form is fleeting but belief is everything.
The Rise of the Underdogs
This year’s Round of 16 saw Magesi FC, the defending champions, edge past AmaZulu in a five-goal thriller. Orbit College fell narrowly to TS Galaxy, while Stellenbosch FC stunned Kaizer Chiefs in a dramatic penalty shootout. These results aren’t anomalies, they are the essence of the Carling Knockout.
In a tournament where eight teams remain, the balance of power has shifted. Durban City, a relative unknown, now stands shoulder to shoulder with giants like Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows.
More Than Just Football
The Carling Knockout Cup is also a celebration of community. From fan voting to grassroots activations, it connects the game to the people. Whether it’s a township watch party or a stadium packed with vuvuzelas, the energy is electric.
📊 The Numbers Behind the Drama
Fan Votes: Over 500,000 cast for Player of the Match
Goals Scored: 21 in the Round of 16
Shootouts: 2
Upsets: 3 seeded teams eliminated
Carling Knockout Results
The opening round of the Carling Knockout was thrilling, with several teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
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Carling Knockout Cup prize money
The winner of the Carling Knockout, Magesi pocketed R6.85 million, with the runner-up Sundowns walking away with R2.85 million.
On the other hand, the semi-finalists received R1.35 million, the quarter-finalists earned R850,000, and the teams knocked out in the last 16 only gained R550,000.
Carling Cup Previous Winners
Kaizer Chiefs is by far the most successful side in the history of the Carling Cup, South Africa's own version of the League Cup with 13 victories, more than three times as many as the next best, though the last triumph came all the way back in 2010.
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A total of 18 clubs have been champions in its various guises since it was first played in 1982, though only one has managed to get into double figures and stands head and shoulders above the rest on the winners’ list.
| Team | Title(s) Won |
| Arcadia Shepherds | 1982 |
| Durban Bush Bucks | 1987 |
| Dynamos | 1991 |
| AmaZulu | 1992 |
| Qwaqwa Stars | 1994 |
| Orlando Pirates | 2011 |
| Bloemfontein Celtic | 2012 |
| SuperSport United | 2014 |
| Cape Town City | 2016 |
| Baroka | 2018 |
| Stellenbosch | 2023 |
| Umtata Bush Bucks | 1993, 1996 |
| Ajax Cape Town | 2000, 2008 |
| Jomo Cosmos | 2002, 2005 |
| Platinum Stars | 2006, 2013 |
| Bidvest Wits | 1985, 1995, 2017 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 1990, 1999, 2015, 2019 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 |
| Magesi | 2024 |
Carling All-Star Team Voting
Once again, this year's winners of the Carling Knockout will get to face a Carling All-Star team that will be made up of players from the 15 other premier division clubs.
Voting is open as of 8 October and will run until 10 December.
Champion fans can vote for their favourite players from all 16 PSL teams even If they get eliminated from the Carling Knockout tournament, by simply purchasing a promo 750ml or 500ml Carling Black Label, dialling *120*660*UNIQUE CODE#, and following the on-screen prompts.
The All-Star team will be made up of six premier division players and five from the Diski teams. This pits upcoming stars against the game's current stars.
Carling Knockout Tickets
Tickets for Carling Knockout final are priced at R50 each and can be purchased at Ticketpro outlets nationwide or online at Ticketpro.
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