Plenty to look forward to in MTN8 quarters

TODAY’S MTN8 action kicks off with two surprise finishers from last season, Platinum Stars and Chippa United, doing battle at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Both were winners in midweek league action, beating SuperSport United (1-0) and Free State Stars (2-1) respectively.

Two more teams that started the season with league wins, Wits and Orlando Pirates, then lock horns in the late game at the Bidvest Stadium.

Gavin Hunt’s men beat Chiefs, whereas the Buccaneers and their new coach Muhsin Ertugral eased to a 3-1 triumph over Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The Turkish coach said he was looking forward to the battle against Hunt, but conceded it would be tough.

“It’s always difficult,” he said. “Gavin is a friend of mine and I have great respect for him as a coach and a human being.

“We have come a long way together as friends, but it’s never easy to play against him. He has a very organised team.”

The Students ended the league second last season and Pirates were a poor seventh.

Finally, reigning league champions Mamelodi Sundowns play their first domestic match of the season tomorrow when they host SuperSport United, eighth last season, at Loftus Versfeld stadium.

The Brazilians did not play in the league this week because they had African Champions League commitments.

Pitso Mosimane’s men rounded off the group stages of the Champions League by being beaten 3-1 by Enyimba, of Nigeria.

However, that result did not stop them from reaching the semi-finals as pool winners.

Stuart Baxter’s under-fire Matsatsantsa, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back after their surprise loss to Stars on Wednesday.

The MTN8 semi-final draw will take place tomorrow immediately after the Sundowns and SuperSport quarter-final fixture.

The draw will be screened live on television.

The draw procedure will be as follows: one pot containing four balls will be used; the semi-finals will be contested over two legs – home and away; there will be no seeding; the first club to be drawn will play at home in the first leg.

The second club drawn will play away in the first leg against the club drawn first.

The third club drawn will be at home in the other firstleg tie; the fourth club drawn will play away against the club drawn third.