THE first knockout competition of the 2014-15 local football season gets underway today with four matches in Round One of the Flow Champions Cup.

A feature of today’s schedule is the contest between former Premier League champions Portmore United and fellow St Catherine-based outfit Old Harbour Bay United at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Portmore United, stunningly relegated from the nation’s top division last season, are favourites to advance against less fancied Old Harbour however results are not uncommon in derby clashes.

In another encounter featuring former Premier League entrants, the pair of August Town FC and Highgate United lock horns at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Bowl.

Also, Seaforth SC are slated to host Holland United at the Seaforth Sports Complex in St Thomas.

Today’s other Flow Champions Cup Knockout game is set for the Brooks Park Sports Complex in Manchester where New Green FC entertain Black Star FC.

All the games today are scheduled to commence at 3:00 pm.

Six more first-round matches are set to be played tomorrow.

The Flow Champions Cup features the 12 Premier League teams in addition to the 14 parish or confederation winners.

However, the top six Premier League teams — including reigning Flow KO champions Waterhouse FC — at the end of the 2013 calendar year have received byes and will join the competition at Round Two. The others are Arnett Gardens FC, Harbour View FC, Humble Lion FC, Rivoli United, and Montego Bay United.

This season’s winners will receive $1.5 million and the winning trophy. Flow will also award the top-scoring team for each round with a $50,000-prize to be used for a charity cause of their choice within their community.

The draw for Round Two will be done on Friday. The first-round draw was carried out on September 22.

The final of the 2014 Flow Cup KO is scheduled for November 17.