Saturday | October 1, 2022

The final berth for the MTN8 Cup final locks the mighty Orlando Pirates Football Club (FC) and Mamelodi Sundowns FC at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday at 15h30.

This is the 1st-leg of the double-legged MTN8 semi-final. The Buccaneers and Sundowns have not met each other since the inception of the 2022/2023 season. 

For football fanatics, this will be an exhibition of the best football at the domestic level. While it will be an unpredictable one for the optics. 

Both clubs are firing on all cylinders and reinforced their squads recently. The Brazilians have roped in Terrence Mashego from Cape Town City FC. Similarly, Pirates acquired Kermit Erasmus from Sundowns and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo from Marumo Gallants FC among others.

Although Sundowns has lost two games this season, there is a feeling that they are yet to be tested in the domestic front. As they travel to Pirates this afternoon, the Buccaneers are viewed as a team that has distinguished itself and more capable of upsetting the status quo.

Located in the south of Johannesburg, Orlando stadium is a mecca of football where enthralling showdowns have been commonplace between the two Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants. This Pirates-Sundowns duel should be nothing short of their previous exhilarating action given the arsenal of players assembled on either team.

The MTN8 Cup final is a fascinating battle which will feature either Pirates or Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs FC or AmaZulu FC.