Today, the Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) held the draw for the upcoming 2012/13 season in the First League and the Macedonian Cup.

The 21st edition of the Macedonian First League will start on 12 August with games from the 1st round.  Right away there will be a derby between the defending champion Vardar and its in-city rival Rabotnichki.  Last year’s Second League winner, Pelister, will host Shkendija in the opening round, while the First League debutant Drita will also start the campaign at home against Bregalnica Shtip.

Round 1 of the First League:

Teteks vs. Horizont Turnovo
Renova vs. Napredok
Vardar vs.  Rabotnichki
Drita vs. Bregalnica Shtip
Sileks vs. Metalurg
Pelister vs. Shkendija

As FFM announced, Renova will play its home games on Saturday, while Rabotnichki will continue to use the Boris Trajkovski stadium as its home ground.

The Macedonian Cup, meanwhile, begins with the 1/16 finals on 22 August.  The title holders Renova will open against Poeshevo, member of the Third League South-West.  Vardar was drawn to play the winner of OFL Kichevo, which was supposed to be Rufeja, but that club decided not to enter the Cup so Vardar may automatically advance into the next round.

Macedonian Cup 1/16-finals:

Karaorman vs. Metalurg
Madjari Solidarnost vs. Drita
Poeshevo vs. Renova
Babi vs. Napredok
Lokomotiva vs. Miravci
Gostivar vs. Bregalnica Shtip
winner of OFL Kichevo vs. Vardar
Plachkovica vs. Shkendija
Belasica vs. Sileks
Bashkimi vs. Tikvesh
Babuna vs. Horizont Turnovo
Ljuboten vs. Gorno Lisiche
Ohrid vs. Teteks
Slavej vs. Pelister
Astibo vs. 11 Oktomvri
Pobeda Junior vs. Rabotnichki

The draw for the Second League was postponed for a few hours. FFM did not explain the reasoning behind the decision.