PSL explains why all Nedbank Cup quarter finals will be played on same day

A block of fixtures on Wednesday plus a full set of games next Tuesday and Wednesday left the Premier Soccer League (PSL) with little option but to schedule all the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal matches this Saturday.

It is the first time all Cup ties are played on one day when they are usually spread out over the weekend to give the sponsor maximum exposure.

Eyebrows were raised as no games will be played on Sunday.

This raised many questions‚ given that Kaizer Chiefs will host SuperSport United at FNB Stadium only a few kilometres away from Orlando Stadium‚ the venue of the Orlando Pirates vs Bloemfontein encounter.

• Komphela has the last laughKaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela was laughed at when he predicted George Lebese would be the decisive factor against Chippa United. 

But PSL officials said next Tuesday's league fixtures precluded the holding of some of the Cup ties on Sunday despite the best effort of the league to get some clubs to move their matches from Tuesday April 25 to Wednesday April 26.

“We tried to be able to spread them out but we also need to give the clubs maximum rest between matches. So we unfortunately could not fixture any games on Sunday‚" PSL spokesman Lux September said on Tuesday.

"It was an issue that the league grappled with for three days before settling on the schedule.”

• "They laughed at me on the bench when I said ‘this is George’s match‚ he’s going to score here’" - KomphelaSteve Komphela predicted George Lebese would prove the decisive factor before he got the winner for Kaizer Chiefs against Chippa United at the weekend and said he hopes the player would make a solid return to form. 

There are Nedbank Cup matches in Durban and Port Elizabeth in the afternoon‚ and in Johannesburg in the evening.

But by scheduling Absa Premiership games on a Tuesday after a Cup weekend the league have shown a lack of foresight in their planning.

A total of 12 of the 16 top-flight sides are playing league games next Tuesday and the other four 24 hours later.

On Wednesday there are six teams in action‚ including a top-of-the-table clash between Cape Town City and Bidvest Wits.

• Orlando Pirates are slowly on the road to redemptionThe Buccaneers have found the compass to take themselves out of the depths of despair they have loitered in for the most part of the season. But finding the compass is half the job done, they still have a lot of distance to cover before they see familiar surroundings. 

Saturday's Nedbank Cup quarterfinal schedule:

Chippa United vs Jomo Cosmos at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3pm)

Golden Arrows vs Platinum Stars at Princess Magogo Stadium (3pm)

Kaizer Chiefs vs SuperSport United at FNB Stadium (6pm)

Orlando Pirates vs Bloemfontein Celtic Orlando Stadium (8:30pm)

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport