Telkom Knockout Final Beckons As Mamelodi Sundowns Battle It Out With Maritzburg United For R4 Million Purse

Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United will battle for top honours in the 2019 Telkom Knockout champions when they meet at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 14 December, kick-off at 6pm.

Sundowns have thus far overcome AmaZulu (5-0 at home), Chippa United (2-2 draw away, 4-3 winners on penalties) and Golden Arrows (2-1 away) en route to the TKO final.

Maritzburg United appearing in their first TKO final beat both Bidvest Wits and Highlands Park on penalties (after 1-1 home draws against each team) before outclassing Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the semifinals.

Maritzburg coach Erik Tinkler who has transformed The Team Of Choice acknowledges that they are underdogs going into the final just as they were when facing Cup Kings, Kaizer Chiefs.

“Definitely we are the underdogs. We were the underdogs against Chiefs in the semi final but we pitched up on the day, we had a lot of belief in ourselves and we worked extremely hard.”

“Now we need to repeat that against an even bigger team in my opinion and one of the best teams on the continent.” said Tinkler.

Mamelodi Sundowns on the other hand will be seeking to add to their impressive trophy collection with their skipper revealing their major aim going into the final.

“We are trying so hard to stay focused on the mission which is to try and win trophies” Hlompho Kekana.

The Premier Soccer League on the other hand revealed that the total prize money for the whole competition is at R14.2 million which would be distributed to the 16 Premier Soccer League teams to have participated in the Telkom Knockout competition.

The winner of the competition is set to walk away with R4 million in prize money.

The runners-up in the final will receive R1.5 million, while the semi-finalists, Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows, will all get R750 000 each.

Prize Money Breakdown:

Winner: R4 000 000

Losing finalist: R1 500 000

Semi-finalist: R750 000

Semi-finalist: R750 000

Quarter-finalist: R400 000

Quarter-finalist: R400 000

Quarter-finalist: R400 000

Quarter-finalist: R400 000

Last sixteen: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Last 16: R200 000

Participation Fee: 16 x R250 000 = R4 million 

By Gerald Dandah