All on the line as Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC battle for MTN8 supremacy

All eyes will be on Moses Mabhida Stadium in the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC on Saturday evening. Seen here: Stellenbosch FC keeper Sage Stephens clears the ball from the box. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media

All eyes will be on Moses Mabhida Stadium in the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC on Saturday evening. Seen here: Stellenbosch FC keeper Sage Stephens clears the ball from the box. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media

Published Oct 5, 2024

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The MTN8 final will take centre stage in the South African sporting landscape when Orlando Pirates play Stellenbosch FC, at Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, on Saturday. Kick-off is at 6pm.

The match will be broadcast live on DStv and also on SABC 1.

Pirates will be hunting a third successive title in the cup competition, but they will come up against a strong Stellies outfit standing in their way.

In fact, Stellenbosch had the better of Pirates in both their league meetings last season.

Sold out affair

Tickets for the final at the 2010 Fifa World Cup stadium with a capacity of 56 000, have been sold out.

Ahead of the game, Pirates coach Jose Riveiro said it would be a massive challenge for his charges to come away victorious.

“We have to accept Stellenbosch the way they are. We respect them big time,” Riveiro said.

“We faced Stellenbosch four times last season in the MTN8 semi-final and in our two games in the league. We know very well what it means to play Stellenbosch and we have to accept that it’s going to be a game where we are going to be permanently under threat because there are going to be transitions.”

In comparison, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker sounded more confident about his side’s chances.

“We know very well what it means to play Stellenbosch and we have to accept that it’s going to be a game where we are going to be permanently under threat because there are going to be transitions,” said Barker.

The coach, however, said Pirates still had some serious quality in their lineup.

“But one just has to look at their front four – (Monnapule) Saleng, (Relebohile) Mofokeng, (Tshegofatso) Mabasa and (Patrick) Maswanganyi. All of them are of their best in their positions in the league,” said Barker.

“I believe we have the quality which can unlock a good defensive unit such as Pirates. We have a lot of quality players in our midst.”