Buccaneers need to prove they can beat the Brazilians
A Sundowns victory will see them stamp down their authority
The MTN8 semifinal second leg clash between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will have a long-lasting impression beyond the Wafawafa cup competition.
The Buccaneers will meet the Brazilians at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday after a goalless first leg in Orlando, Soweto.
Jose Riveiro’s boys will be desperate for silverware after years of underachieving, while Sundowns will be looking to reach yet another final to continue their dominance in the domestic scene.
What makes this an interesting fixture is that Supersport United coach Gavin Hunt has insisted that Pirates are the only team that can challenge Sundowns in the League.
“Pirates are the main challengers, the rest of us are just joking,” stated Hunt.
The match will either prove Hunt right or wrong on Pirates’ capabilities to challenge the Tshwane outfit and end their dominance in the league.
For Sundowns, this is an opportunity to stamp their authority on the MTN8 competition, where their numbers don’t make for good reading.
In their history, Sundowns have won the top eight trophy only four times since its establishment in 1972, while Pirates have fared better with 10 titles to their name.
From the Bucs bench, Riveiro will look to Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo to provide the spark in midfield and Olisa Ndah to again stop Peter Shalulile.
Upfront, the ball is in Zakhele Lepasa’s court to outshine the Sundowns defence led by Rushine De Reuck. Perhaps a real challenge for Pirates is that they have been firing blanks in their recent games.
Sundowns tacticians Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena, in the company of Steve Komphela, will rely on the likes of Themba Zwane to prove they are still the side to beat and most importantly, reach the final for the chance to annex their fifth title.
Over in Kwazulu-natal, Kaizer Chiefs will head to Moses Mabhida Stadium to face hosts Amazulu the following day, well aware that their trophy cabinet is gathering dust.
It has been eight years since Amakhosi won some silverware, coming in the form of the MTN8 in 2014, when they beat nemesis Orlando Pirates 1-0 in Durban.
Chiefs will be without their current longest-serving player Itumeleng Khune, who is out with a groin injury.
Amakhosi coach Arthur Zwane will be the first to admit that Chiefs are yet to get going this season, but there are indeed positive signs with Caleb-bonfils Bimenyimana amongst the top scorers in the league, while Zwane has been full of praise for Kgaogelo Sekgota, who has played better this season.
However, Chiefs will have to keep a close eye on Gabadinho Mhango, who returns from suspension. The Malawian scored in the first leg that finished 1-1 at FNB Stadium. Amazulu have the advantage of the away goal, which means Chiefs must score in Durban, which may lead to an open and interesting game.