Chiefs emerged from Monday afternoon's draw for the ABSA Cup Last 16 matches with a lot of reason to smile as the Amakhosi avoided other PSL teams, which included fellow title contenders Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Instead Chiefs were drawn to face Mvela Golden League team City Pillars from the Limpopo Province. Where as the round of 32 threw up six all PSL clashes this time around only two of the eight games in the round will see PSL teams square up against each other.

In what can only be described as a favourable draw for the top three teams on the PSL standings ABSA sponsorship manager Tebogo Madibo was happy to see Chiefs and Pirates avoid each other “in my opinion this draw is a dream draw for us as the sponsors. We have not had Chiefs, Pirates or Sundowns do well in the ABSA Cup and we hope that can change this year”.

City Pillars, who hail from Polokwane in the Limpopo Province are confident of victory over Chiefs, club PRO Oubaas Sabela saying “all the pressure is on Chiefs, whether we win or lose it won’t make a difference but I am confident that we will cause an upset”.

Pillars, who needed extra time and penalties to beat Naughty Boys of Klerksdorp in the round of 32, will have their work cut out against Chiefs who knocked out defending champions Super Sport United at the weekend. Chiefs have not been able to progress beyond the round of sixteen since ABSA took over the sponsorship of the event in 2003, with the draw against so called lesser opposition Chiefs will be looking to break the duck of being eliminated in the last sixteen and hopefully progress to the quarter finals.

Chiefs communications manager Thebe Mohatle was satisfied with the way the wheel spun for Chiefs and is hopeful the Amakhosi will be back when the draw for the quarterfinals is conducted as he commented. “No team should ever be taken lightly but after the draw we had in the previous round there is no reason for us to be un - happy with this draw”.

ABSA matches for the last sixteen draw will be played on the 22nd, 25th and 26th March venues and kick off times will be confirmed by the PSL Cup Committee.

Full draw ABSA Last Sixteen

Orlando Pirates VS PJ Stars


Moroka Swallows VS Santos


Hanover Park VS Nathi Lions


Sundowns VS Mabopane Young Masters


Black Leopards VS Witbank Spurs


Ajax Cape Town VS Tembisa Classic


Kaizer Chiefs VS City Pillars


Black Burn Rovers VS Bloemfontein Young Tigers