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The South African version of the League Cup returned following a four-year break and it returned rebranded as the Carling Knockout with a new title sponsor.The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/carling-knockout-last-16-draw-tricky-tie-for-kaizer-chiefs-but-mamelodi-sundowns-and-orlando-pirates-get-easy-fixtures/bltfe5d8284098bc797" target="_blank">Carling Knockout was launched on October 10</a> and since then, Stellenbosch walked away as the winners of the competition. GOAL reflects on how the tournament panned out.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Carling Knockout: Contenders, prize money, winners

The Carling Knockout is a competition featuring <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/psl/yv73ms6v1995b5wny16jcfi3" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League</a> teams.It replaced the Telkom Knockout which was last played in 2019 and was launched on 10 October 2023 and it became the fourth tournament of the 2023/24 season.The tournament has previously been known as the Datsun Challenge, John Player Special (JPS) Knockout Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Rothmans Cup and then Telkom Knockout Cup.It is now known as the Carling Knockout.

What is the Carling Knockout?

Kaizer Chiefs are the most successful team in the Knockout competition with 13 titles and they last won it in 2010.Sundowns are the second most successful side, having won it four times and they are the last team to lift it before the four-year hiatus.Surprisingly, Orlando Pirates have been crowned champions just once and that was in 2011 while Cape Town Spurs have claimed it twice before.

Previous Knockout winners

All 16 PSL teams were granted a berth in the opening round of the competition:Mamelodi SundownsKaizer ChiefsOrlando PiratesGolden ArrowsSuperSport UnitedGolden ArrowsCape Town CityTS GalaxyRichards BayRoyal AMCape Town SpursPolokwane CitySekhukhune UnitedStellenboschChippa UnitedMoroka Swallows

The 2023/24 season contestants

The 2023/24 Carling Knockout Cup prize money pool stood at a total of R20.2 million.The winners went home with R6,85 million while the losing finalists pocketed R2,85 million.Those who bowed out at the semi-final stage got R1.35 million while quarter-finalists went back home with R850,000. The Last-16 participants got R550,000

Prize money

Following the end of the Round of 16 matches, the Carling Cup went into the quarter-final stage where arguably the biggest upset of this season's tournament was witnessed.Friday, November 3, 2023Polokwane City 0-2 Stellenbosch FC - Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Saturday, November 4, 2023Richards Bay 0-0 Orlando Pirates (5-4 on pens) - Moses Mabhida Stadium AmaZulu 3-0 Golden Arrows - Moses Mabhida Stadium Sekhukhune 0-0 TS Galaxy (2-4) on pens- New Peter Mokaba Stadium

Carling Knockout quarter-final results

The semi-final stage of the competition unfolded at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where four teams competed fiercely for a place in the final round.Saturday, December 2, 2023Richards Bay 0-3 Stellenbosch FC - Moses Mabhida Stadium&nbsp;Sunday, December 3, 2023&nbsp;AmaZulu FC 2-3 TS Galaxy - Moses Mabhida Stadium&nbsp;

Semi-final results

A tense encounter unfolded at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, December 16, as Stellenbosch rallied from a goal down to force the match into a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. In the end, they triumphed 5-4 over TS Galaxy, securing their inaugural major trophy.

Final result

There were two major innovations instituted by the sponsors. The first was a fan vote for the Man Of The Match award which came with a R100,000 cheque for the winner. The second is an All-Star Match, which takes place at the end of the competition and pits the trophy winners against an All-Star team, which will be voted for by supporters.

Competition innovations

The Carling Knockout also offered a unique opportunity for a fortunate fan to win up to R90,000 on every match day by accurately predicting the correct time when a goal would be scored. This changed to R900,000 in the final.

Something for the fans

Carling Knockout: Contenders, prize money, winners | Goal.com South Africa

GOAL reflects on the recently concluded South African league cup.