Tough draw for Chiefs
Tough draw for Chiefs

Posted in News on Mar 15, 2004.

Business at the Carlton Centre in central Johannesburg, came to a standstill on Monday when hundreds of customers and workers crammed onto the ground floor to witness the Absa Cup last 16 draw.



Fears of a possible stampede were quelled by good behaviour and co-operation between the members of the public and the security personnel.



Executive member of the PSL, Ronnie Schloss, who commended the sponsors "for taking the draw to the people", had everything going smoothly until Kaizer Chiefs name was drawn.



The crowd made a deafening noise, hoping for a derby between Chiefs and their historic rivals, Orlando Pirates.



But the centre went silent when Ajax Cape Town were pitted against Chiefs.



However, their dreams could still be fulfilled provided Pirates brush aside Classic in one of the potential cracker.



"'Professor' Ted Dumitru will give Gordon Igesund a lesson free of charge," said Putco Mafani, who represented Chiefs. Dumitru appears to have earned his title at the "University of Naturena".



Defending champions Santos will host Jomo Cosmos while Loftus Stadium will be home for SuperSport United against Zulu Royals.



Lamontville Golden Arrows will travel from Durban to Limpopo, hoping to edge Silver Stars while Wits University will meet Roses United in Bloemfontein.



Moroka Swallows were not worried about their draw against Tornado. "Swallows fly higher when its windy" Sipho Xulu of Swallows warned.



Durbanites Manning Rangers and Durban Stars, the only two teams not present at the draw, were pitted against each other.



The dates of the matches will be announced after a Cup committee meeting on Wednesday.



The winners will walk away with a whopping R1,5-million while R900 000 is guaranteed for the second prize.



Losers in the last 32 took home R50000 each while R75 000 will be a consolation to those clubs which will not see the quarterfinals.



Draw



Roses United v Wits University, Bloemfontein


Silver Stars v Lamontville Golden Arrows, Polokwane


Moroka Swallows v Tornado, Rand Stadium


Orlando Pirates v Classic, Jhb Stadium


Kaizer Chiefs v Ajax Cape Town, FNB Stadium


Supersport United v Zulu Royals, Loftus


Santos v Jomo Cosmos, Athlone


Manning Rangers v Durban Stars, Durban

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