Amakhosi skipper Jimmy Tau was on hand with the representatives of the seven other teams who would be participating in the 2011 MTN8 Cup, and put his signature on a commerative wall at an event to mark the launch of the MTN8 at sponsors MTN’s headquarters in Roodepoort Western Johannesburg on Monday afternoon.

The competition will hold the same format as previous seasons with the top eight finishers from the 2010 – 2011 campaign qualifying to play in the tournament, with seeding based on their final standings from last season. It will start at the Quarter – final stage, move onto the semifinals which will be played on a home and away basis and the final.

In 2008 the format of the tournament was altered with the semifinal becoming a two legged affair, an innovation which has found favour with Amakhosi captain Jimmy Tau, “I really enjoy the MTN8. It’s a really competitive event and an exciting one, the two legged semifinal makes it more interesting because the game is not won after ninety minute, it adds to the intrigue and makes getting to the final tricky.”

The Amakhosi who ended off in third place on the league standings last season will square off against BIDVest Wits who finished in sixth place.

Tau who held aloft the MTN8 trophy when Chiefs won the tournament in 2008 the first to carry the name of the current sponsors, is confident that the Amakhosi who were beaten on aggregate 2 – 1 over two legs at the semifinal stage of last season’s tournament by Orlando Pirates will give their all to win back the trophy they won three years ago.

“We would loved to win it again” exclaimed the Chiefs skipper who further explained “I have won this competition twice in 2006 and in 2008 a third winners medal would be fantastic. We ready to work hard and do whatever we need to in order to win this most interesting knockout competition.”

Chiefs and Wits clashed in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 last season a game won 4-0 by the Amakhosi, Tau though does feel that result will have no bearing on the outcome of this game, “neither us or them will dwell much on the Nedbank Cup game.

This is a new season and a new game, we fired up because this game is the start of the season for us and we want to kick off the season in the best possible way with a win we will not look back only forward.”

Once again the Premier Soccer League and sponsors MTN have kept with tradition and the number fan one throughout the tournament will be rewarded with the title as the ‘Last Fan Standing’ as well as a R 1 Million cash prize and an all expenses paid trip to see eight of the biggest derbies in world football.

There is also a prize of R 4 000 exclusively to be won by female fans attending MTN8 matches, the tournament kicks off on the weekend of August 3rd, dates, venues and kick off times for the Quarterfinal matches will be made available shortly.

MTN8 Quarterfinal Fixtures:

Orlando Pirates Vs Santos

Ajax Cape Town Vs Super Sport United

Kaizer Chiefs Vs BIDVest Wits

Mamelodi Sundowns Vs Bloemfontein Celtic