Soccer
FS Stars look to defend Mayoral Cup─── 15:57 Fri, 18 Jul 2014
Lee Khotlele
Bloemfontein - Free State Stars will be hoping for a positive start when they host Maritzburg United in the annual Uthukela Mayoral Cup in Ladysmith this Sunday, weeks before the start of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Ea Lla Koto were crowned as the champion last year after defeating relegated Arrows 4-2 in the final and will be looking to do the same this year.
Stars and United will be joined by the Swaziland Leopards and the Uthukela Invitation for this year’s edition. All four teams will participate in various activities organised by Uthukela Municipality.
The activities include serving the 67 minutes on Mandela Day (Friday) and hosting coaching clinics (Saturday) in previously disadvantaged areas in and around Ladysmith.
The first match will see Stars and United fighting for a place in the final where they will meet the winner of the second semifinal between Leopards and Uthukela.
All the matches will be played at Settler’s Park Stadium in Ladysmith.
This will be Tom Saintfiet’s first official game at the helm of Stars. The 41-year-old Belgian took over from Kinnah Phiri and Themba Sithole last month.
Saintfiet’s appointment dropped Phiri and Sithole to the roles of technical director and head of scout respectively.
Stars begin their 2014/15 PSL season with a home clash against Kaizer Chiefs on 09 August 2014.
Fixtures: Uthukela Mayoral Cup
First semi-final: Free State Stars v Maritzburg United (09h00)
Second semi-final: Swaziland Leopards v Uthukela Invitation (12h00)
Final: 15h00
Second semi-final: Swaziland Leopards v Uthukela Invitation (12h00)
Final: 15h00
