The Telkom Knockout: A Comprehensive Guide
The Telkom Knockout (TKO) is an annual association football knockout tournament held in South Africa. It was established by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and has been running since 2003.
History of the Telkom Knockout
- The first edition of the TKO took place in 2003, with Kaizer Chiefs emerging as the inaugural champions.
- In its early years, the tournament was held in a round-robin format before switching to a knockout system.
- Over the years, the TKO has become one of the most prestigious domestic tournaments in South African football.
The Telkom Knockout has undergone several changes since its inception. In 2011, the tournament was rebranded as the Telkom Knockout and became a knockout competition with 32 teams participating.
Qualification for the Telkom Knockout
| Year | Number of Teams Participating | Tournament Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-2010 | 16 teams | Round-robin format followed by knockout stage |
| 2011-present | 32 teams | Knockout competition from the beginning |
Teams participating in the Telkom Knockout include all 16 Premiership clubs, as well as the top 16 teams from the National First Division (NFD).
Telkom Knockout Format and Schedule
- The tournament is played from August to October each year.
- Teams are seeded based on their position in the league table.
- The competition starts with the first round, where 16 teams play each other in a knockout format.
The winners of each match progress to the next round until the final, which is played at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The Telkom Knockout has been broadcast live on television and radio across South Africa, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the action unfold.
Telkom Knockout Teams
The teams participating in the Telkom Knockout include some of the biggest names in South African football. Here's a list of all 32 teams that took part in the 2022 edition:
- Ajax Cape Town
- Amazulu FC
- Baroka FC
- Bloemfontein Celtic
- Cape Town City FC
- Chippa United
- Golden Arrows
- Hunters Stars
- Jomo Cosmos
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- Maritzburg United
- Moroka Swallows
- Orlando Pirates
- Pirates FC
- Richards Bay FC
- Stellenbosch FC
- SuperSport United
- Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
- Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) FC
Telkom Knockout Statistics
| Year | Number of Teams Participating | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 16 teams | Kaizer Chiefs | Ajax Cape Town |
| 2011-present | 32 teams | Mamelodi Sundowns (6
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