Matsatsantsa a Pitori will take on the Congolese giants in the final with the first leg scheduled for the weekend of November 17-19 and the second leg in SA the following weekend.
The PSL will have to reschedule at least two of their Absa Premiership matches (perhaps also a Telkom Knockout match if they progress to the last eight) as they were meant to face Ajax Cape Town on November 22 and Polokwane City three days later.
PSL acting chief executive Mato Madlala said contingency plans for the rescheduling of games had already been made. “Just like we did with Mamelodi Sundowns, we have put a block [of alternate dates] for any such eventualities, so there will be no problem.
It is good for the PSL that we are being represented in continental competition.”
Meanwhile, Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke missed out on the Fifa Puskas Award after Olivier Giroud was named the winner of the goal of the year in London last night.
The Arsenal striker won the award for his “scorpion kick” goal against Crystal Palace at the beginning of the year.
Masuluke was unlucky not to get the nod after having the backing of top stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane, who had named the 24-year-old as their favourite for the award.
“I like the Giroud goal but I have to give credit to the goalkeeper,” Player of the Year recipient Ronaldo said prior to the announcement.
“It has to be the goalkeeper with the overhead kick. Incredible goal and the celebrations matched it as well,” Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane said.
Baroka boss Khurishi Mphahlele paid homage to Masuluke for putting the Limpopo club on the world football map.
“This moment ranks right up there with when we gained promotion to the Premiership,” Mphahlele told Sowetan last night.
“It’s something we can brag about that other teams cannot have. You could play 100 years and not come close to winning the award. It’s something very special.
“As a club it has given us great mileage and has raised our brand and profile.”
The Baroka goalie rubbed shoulders with some of the finest footballers in the world including best footballer nominees Lionel Messi and Neymar at the glitzy ceremony.
Last night’s winners:
Player: Ronaldo
Coach: Zinedine Zidane
Goal: Giroud
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Coach (women): Sarina Wiegman
Player (women): Lieke Martens
