With Orlando Pirates biding time with enviable glee to claim their next victim, AmaZulu Football Club will draw out their reinforced shields to cross swords in battle against Kaizer Chiefs FC in their last installment face-off in the MTN8 Cup semi-final this afternoon.

Sunday | October 23, 2022

It is now official: Orlando Pirates booked their berth in the MTN8 Cup final on Saturday. However, there is still one place up for grabs. The scuffle for this last spot locks AmaZulu FC against Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 15h30.

Scheduled in KwaZulu-Natal, Chiefs will be returning the favour to AmaZulu in the double-legged MTN8 Cup semi-final which still hangs in the balance. In their first-leg, Usuthu managed to score an away goal in Johannesburg three weeks ago. For their own good, Amakhosi pulled one back to ensure a 1-1 draw at home to stay in the race for a cup acclaim. Coming at the beginning of the season, MTN8 Cup is one of the trophies on offer season after the other in the Premier Soccer League.

Quite notably, AmaZulu go into this game with an away goal advantage. Put plainly, if this MTN8 semi-final finishes without a goal, they will advance to the final. On the other hand, Chiefs have it all to do in today’s exceedingly anticipated duel to make sure they get an away goal to have a chance of winning this match.

In a pre-match interview, Usuthu head coach Romain Folz said the match will be physical and competitive but tactics will be key. In a way, hinting on the prior heated affair between Pirates and Sundowns in Polokwane. His counterpart, Arthur Zwane, touched on the historic achievements of Chiefs that they are known for winning trophies; affirming that with him in charge, nothing has changed. He insisted that the club brings players with character and belief to win games.

The victorious team between AmaZulu and Chiefs will meet Pirates in the MTN8 Cup final. Orlando Pirates reached the final after trashing Mamelodi Sundowns FC 3-0 away (in Polokwane) yesterday. With Sundowns, the current holders, out of the equation, this season will usher in new reigning champions of the one-winner take all football tournament.

This quest has to witness the winner in the penultimate match up between Usuthu and Amakhosi first this afternoon; an enticing fixture in every sense of a cup game. In the meantime, Pirates await their date with sharpened appetites.