TKO Last 16: Build-up in Quotes

18 Oct 2016

Representatives of Orlando Pirates, Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs were at the PSL offices on Tuesday as the battle lines were drawn for their opening round of the 2016 Telkom Knockout.

The competition kicks off on Wednesday night when Cape Town City host Bloemfontein Celtic.

Highlands Park, with new coach Gordon Igesund at the helm, play Chippa on Friday night while Chiefs entertain Maritzburg United on Saturday and Pirates host Golden Arrows on Sunday (see all fixtures below).

Here are some selected comments from Tuesday's press conference:

Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo: "It's a great opportunity for us to regroup and we would like to honour our Chairman with some silverware."

"We aren't pressured to deliver just because of the 80th Anniversary. We are pressured to deliver by the expectation of the badge."

"Walking into this room, being at a shop, getting petrol at a garage is pressure. That's what comes with the brand we represent."

Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral:

"I know my challenges with this team, but also know that we will overcome them. The players just need to keep going."

"Golden Arrows is a positive team and its important for Telkom to get some positive elements in the tournament."

"We not playing well at the moment, patterns are wrong but we want to make our fans happy."

"Football is a multimillion dollar industry with no time for democracy. Everyone wants to be loved but hates to be criticised."

"Oupa [Manyisa] is one of the best players I've worked with & one of the best that the country has produced."

"We have Gyimah, Kutumela, Shitolo, Mthiyane, Qalinge and Ndoro on the injury list."

Highlands Park coach Gordon Igesund:

"We have a short and long term goals at Highlands Park, main one to remain in the premier division."

"Important message to the Highlands Park players is that football is a short term career and that they need to work hard."

"It’s tough winning a league game but everyone can win a cup game and that's what we planning to do against Chippa United."

Steve Komphela:

"Knockout competition games are must win games and we will prepare accordingly."

"It’s going to be a difficult game against Maritzburg United."

"We try to avoid pressure from outside so we can maintain pressure from within."

"We'd like to remain in the mode of winning games and we will start this weekend"

George Lebese: It’s a very player's dream to remain consistent especially when we've been winning."

"In terms of performance we've been doing well and hope we remain consistent."

"The more we win league games is the more we get flashbacks when we won the league, but now we want to focus on TKO."

TICKET AND FIXTURE info:

Tickets are available at TicketPro outlets throughout the country.

The first fixture of the TKO will be a round of 16 encounter between Cape Town City and Bloemfontein Celtic in the Mother City at the Cape Town Stadium.

Ticket categories vary from R40 up to R60 – they are available at all TicketPro 811 outlets nationwide. They include CNA, Postnet, Edgars and Jet stores.

TKO L16 Fixtures and Ticket categories below:

Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Cape Town City FC vs Bloemfontein Celtic, Cape Town Stadium, 19h30

*Ticket Categories: R60 (adults) and R15 (Children under the age of 12)

Friday, 21 October 2016

Highlands Park vs Chippa United, Makhulong Stadium, 20h00