Today marked a critical moment for both our domestic and top-tier football calendar as the draw for the 2024 KZN Premier’s Cup was launched. This uniquely KwaZulu-Natal pre-season football tournament, held under the auspices of the Government of Provincial Unity, comes in the wake of the electoral outcomes of the May 29 National and Provincial elections.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, accompanied by EDTEA MEC Rev Musa Zondi, COGTA MEC Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Finance MEC Francois Rodgers, Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula, Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, eThekwini Mayor Cllr Cyril Xaba, eThekwini Deputy Mayor Cllr Zandile Myeni, and representatives from various NPOs, attended the launch event. Premier Ntuli thanked everyone for their presence and continued support, emphasising the significance of this year's tournament in promoting tolerance, unity, and social cohesion.
The Premier’s Cup has become a prestigious pre-season soccer extravaganza, providing a much-needed football feast for lovers of the beautiful game across the province. Local teams from the Premier Soccer League and those competing in the National First Division battle for the coveted title of KZN Premier’s Cup Champions.
This year’s tournament, scheduled for the 27th and 28th of July at the Prince Mangosuthu Regional Sports Complex in Ulundi, promised to be even bigger and better. Matches were expected to be played before capacity crowds, with the presence of professional players serving as an inspiration for young boys and girls to pursue sport as part of their overall development.
Premier Ntuli highlighted the importance of the tournament in assisting teams to finalise and shape their combinations before the start of the new season. He expressed gratitude to the Office of the Premier and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for making resources available, despite the constrained environment.
“My gratitude also goes to all six local soccer teams, namely AmaZulu FC, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Royal AM, Richards Bay FC, and Milford, for partaking in this proudly KwaZulu-Natal tournament,” said Premier Ntuli. Now in its thirteenth year, the Premier’s Cup has seen more clubs fine-tuning their prowess during the pre-season period, offering not only football enjoyment but also far-reaching economic returns for the province.
This year, the tournament was moved outside of the traditional big cities of Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Richards Bay to Ulundi. This decision aimed to ensure that people from rural areas could watch their favourite teams playing competitive football right at their doorstep, without having to travel long distances. It also sought to distribute the economic benefits of hosting such events to these areas.
“We are confident that the Prince Mangosuthu Regional Stadium will host a successful tournament, as seen over the past few years with the Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup. Having top-tier teams play in this venue will also fast-track the provision and upgrading of sport facilities in other towns capable of hosting major sporting and arts events,” Premier Ntuli stated.
As the draw for the tournament was conducted, Premier Ntuli challenged the teams to utilise the tournament fully to finalise their preparations for the upcoming season. With AmaZulu FC defending their title, he was positive that all participants would display a high level of competitive edge.
“As Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, it is my wish to see one of our teams winning the PSL in the coming season and all our teams in the Premiership finishing in the top eight of the log table. My message to Maritzburg United and Milford is that we want to see at least one of you gaining promotion to the Premiership division,” he added.
Premier Ntuli assured that the KwaZulu-Natal Government, through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, led by MEC Khawula, would continue to strengthen partnerships with football structures and professional clubs to unearth, develop, and progress the abundant talent in the province.
In conclusion, Premier Ntuli wished all the best to the participants in the 2024 KZN Premier’s Cup, emphasising that while there could only be one winner on the field, the biggest winner was the province of KwaZulu-Natal, which is dedicated to producing players and teams of a global standard. Creating winners remains the shared vision of the province.