As anticipation peaks with unparalleled velocity, the race is on for the first trophy of the 2022/2023 season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The MTN8 Cup final primers this weekend feature epic battles between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as well as AmaZulu Football Club and Kaiser Chiefs. For the sponsors, and quite certainly for the fans of the beautiful game, there could be no better prospects for the last dance in the final reckoning than the duels of these four historic clubs in the South African footballing landscape.

Friday | October 21, 2022

Orlando Pirates travel to Mamelodi Sundowns in a return MTN8 Cup semi-finals mammoth clash at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 15h30.

The two Gauteng giants played to a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium in Soweto three weeks ago. This scoreline works in Pirates’ favour because they did not concede a goal at home. In the contrary, Sundowns could have been in a much better position had they managed to sneak in an away goal.

Be that as it may, they are both returning to this second-leg in a posture they were when they played their first-leg fixture. As they set up for yet another brutal face-off, this crunch match should produce the winner this time around when the last whistle sounds.

The team that emerges victorious will wait for the triumphant opponent between Kaiser Chiefs and AmaZulu FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 15h30. For their MTN8 final spot, either team will seek to outperform their previous 1-1 deadlock played on Oct. 2, 2022.

The first of the MTN8 Cup grand finale primers is Saturday’s epic meeting in which Sundowns and Pirates will size each other up in a bid to bring to an end their unfinished business. Billed the final before the final, both teams are on top form though Sundowns have been on the ascendency and recorded more milestones than the Buccaneers in recent history.

That said, the latter are more hungry for silverware which has evaded them for a number of years to date. This elusiveness is not such a bad omen in and of itself; for Orlando Pirates have bolstered their squad, including the technical unit. The positive results of late are encouraging signs that they are turning the corner and, maybe, on a redemption path too. Although it may not be ripe enough to write home about, it should sharpen their appetites and elevate their optimism a tard. Perhaps more so given their first-leg showing in their own backyard.

On the other hand, the Brazilians are a competitive force in their own right and season-after-season have proven that they are the team to beat in every encounter. Their stranglehold in domestic competitions has made it difficult for their rivals to unsettle them. This is the unrelenting force Pirates need to face, tussle with and defeat. It is too obvious to state that this is a sterner test for them in this campaign of the PSL. Equally so for Mamelod Sundowns. A match with Pirates in their current and impressive display is a massive challenge they (themselves) will not hesitate to admit.

The Buccaneers need to take the game to their hosts and seize it by the scruff of its neck. To do this, at the very least, they need to score and defend formidably. Should the game end in a draw again but with goals in between, Pirates will advance to the MTN8 Cup final on an away goal-advantage principle.

However, regardless of the number of goals scored or considered, Sundowns will unleash their arsenal as they have done so in every game they contested in. Quite plainly, they need an outright win to progress to the MTN8 Cup final and defend their throne as current holders.

Therefore, the battle lines are drawn. Which way is it going to go? It has been highlighted numerous times that cup games are tricky and hard to pin a prediction on. The Sundown-Pirates duel will be no different tomorrow.