The draw for the opening weekend of the 2014/15 Absa Premiership season was conducted at the PSL offices in Parktown this morning.
Preparations for the upcoming campaign have begun in earnest, although the players are in off-season, and most clubs will only resume with pre-season training towards the end of June. It has been confirmed that the opening round of next season’s games will take place on the weekend of 8-10 August.
The season will open with a fixture between Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs, while there will be the original Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows. AmaZulu will be facing Ajax Cape Town, and Mpumalanga Black Aces will be up against Bloemfontein Celtic.
Polokwane City will meet University of Pretoria, and a repeat of last season's final game will see Mamelodi Sundowns take on Maritzburg United. PSL returnees, Chippa United, face a baptism of fire against Platinum Stars. In a potential thriller, Nedbank Cup finalists, Wits, will do battle against SuperSport United.
Derek Blanckensee joked at the function saying, “We always get criticised that Pirates play Arrows in the last game of the season. I will be surprised if it happens this season.”
Fixtures:
Free State Stars vs Kaizer Chiefs
Orlando Pirates vs Moroka Swallows
AmaZulu vs Ajax Cape Town
Mpumalanga Black Aces vs Bloemfontein Celtic
Polokwane City vs University of Pretoria
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Maritzburg United
Chippa United vs Platinum Stars
Wits vs SuperSport United