Kaizer Chiefs will begin the defence of their Telkom Knock Out Cup title on the road when they face Amazulu in Durban on a date yet to be confirmed in the round of 16, when the 2010 – 2011 tournament begins next weekend.

The Amakhosi were one of the seeded teams in Monday’s draw which was conducted in Johannesburg, they will face Amazulu for the first time in a cup match in over 16 years.

The last cup clash between Chiefs and Amazulu was during the semi-final stage of the 1994 BP Top Eight a game which Chiefs won 2-1, the looming Telkom Knock Out clash between the teams will be the inaugural cup meeting between the teams in the PSL era.

Amakhosi coach Vladimir Vermezovic as well as skipper Jimmy Tau and Communications director Thebe Mohatle were in attendance at the draw, as the defending champions Chiefs ceremoniously handed back the trophy.

Which the club had won in April this year when defeating Ajax Cape Town in the final back to the league authorities and were handed a smaller replica version which the club will get to keep.

Facing Amazulu in the opening round as Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic explained will be no easy task, “it is a tough game, we do have the experience of last season when we played hard away games against Santos, Sundowns and Pirates. These competitions are the chances for the less favoured teams to do well, as you know in cup competitions there is no favourite and our target will be to perform well.”

Chiefs skipper Jimmy Tau held the same view as his coach and feels that given Chiefs run to the final last time out they have what it takes to do well in Cup competitions.

“Playing Amazulu in Durban is always difficult having to face them in a cup match won’t be any different if anything it will be more challenging, in knock out football you must be prepared to play just as well away from home, and we looking forward to overcoming this challenge and hopefully demonstrate our strength at being able to perform well away from home.”

Since the inception of the PSL at the start of the 1996 – 1997 Chiefs have won the Telkom Knock Out Cup under its various guises on seven occasions and were runners up during the 2002 – 2003 competition.

Matches for the 2010 – 2011 Telkom Knock Out Cup will kick off on the 23rd October and will also be played on the 24th and 27th of October, the final has been scheduled to take place on December 4th.

First round draw for the 2010 – 2011 Telkom Knock Out Cup

SuperSport United Vs Vasco Da Gama


Bloemfontein Celtic Vs Maritzburg United


BIDVest Wits Vs Santos


Amazulu Vs Kaizer Chiefs


Ajax Cape Town Vs Free State Stars


Lamontville Golden Arrows Vs Orlando Pirates


Platinum Stars Vs Mamelodi Sundowns


Moroka Swallows Vs Mpumalanga Black Aces

*Team listed first denotes home team