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BidVest Wits will begin their Absa Premiership title defence with a home clash against last season’s highfliers, Cape Town City on 18 August at BidVest Stadium.
Wits made history by claiming their first league title despite a 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs on the final day of the season. All eyes will no doubt be at the BidVest Stadium as many will want to see how the defending champions get their season off the ground.
Added to that, will be the arrival of former Everton and Bafana Bafana midfielder Steven Pienaar, who will be running out in the Wits colours. Whether be plays or not on the first day remains to be seen. Also, adding more spice to that fixture will be the presence of former Bafana striker Benni McCarthy on the Cape Town City bench. He will be making his official coaching debut and will hope for a positive start.
The opening week of the 2017-18 season will also dish out two potentially thrilling derbies. First, the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium will play host to Polokwane City against relegation survivors Baroka FC at 3PM. Then, arguably the most exciting derby in recent times will see SuperSport United host African champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium in a 6PM kick-off.
The first Soweto derby of the season is set for 28 October, with Chiefs playing host to Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium. Pirates will then host the return leg of the derby on 3 March next year at the same venue.
Another fixture that football neutrals will look forward to is the clash between Wits and Sundowns scheduled for 21 November. Previously, this would have drawn attention beyond the supporters of the two clubs. But not since Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane had referred to Wits as “Stoke City” in his attempt to show that there was no comparison between the two clubs.
Two matches are scheduled for Sunday in the opening week — Platinum Stars against Maritzburg United and Bloemfontein Celtic against Kaizer Chiefs.
Prior to the start of the Absa Premiership, those who finished in the top eight will have a chance to compete for their first silverware of the season in the MTN8 competition.
The quarterfinal matches are scheduled for 12 August. The MTN8 semifinal first leg matches are pencilled for 26 August with the return legs on 9 and 12 September. The final is billed for 23 September.
Next Friday’s fixture will signal the first official game of the 2017-18 football season. MTN8 champions, Bidvest Wits will kick off proceedings when they face Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Bidvest Stadium at 8pm.
Bidvest Wits won the trophy following that emphatic victory against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Mbombela Stadium last year. This was the first time the “Clever Boys” lifted the trophy.
On Saturday, 12 August there will be two fixtures: Cape Town City, who finished in the semis last year, will take on MTN8 newcomers Polokwane City at the Cape Town Stadium at 3pm.
At 8:15PM, Kaizer Chiefs will be at home against SuperSport United at Moses Mabhida in Durban.
On Sunday, 13 August there will be one fixture between last year’s runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United.
The Telkom KO is set to start on 14 October, with the final on 2 December. The league will take a break between 23 December and 2 January. The Nedbank Cup last 32 starts on 10 February, with the final set for 19 May. The final round of Absa Premiership matches will be played on 12 May. — Supersport.
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