Defending champions Orlando Pirates will take on Stellenbosch FC in the final of this season’s MTN8 tournament on Saturday, 5 October.
Kick-off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will be at 18:00.
Teams
Orlando Pirates
Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Monyane, Maela, Makhaula, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Saleng, Hotto, Makgopa
Substitutes: Buthelezi, Mofokeng, Nkota, Rasebotja, Mako, Kimvuidi, Mabasa, Dlamini, Gilberto
Stellenbosch FC
Stephens, Moloisane, Basadien, Mcaba, Toure, Titus, Adams, Ntuli, Mojela, De Jong, Jabaar
Substitutes: Masuluke, Jurgens, Mdaka, Palace, Butsaka, Onyango, Phili, Cupido, Barns
Prize money hiked
The Buccaneers are seeking a hat-trick of titles – and a 13th overall.
Stellies have never lifted the trophy.
The prize fund for this year’s tournament has been hiked to R17 million in total.
The winner of Saturday’s match will walk away with a R10 million cheque, while the loser – along with the other six sides to have competed – will earn R1 million.
Those other six teams who were eliminated in the earlier rounds were SuperSport United, TS Galaxy, Sekhukhune United, Cape Town City FC, Polokwane City and Mamelodi Sundowns.
HISTORY
The MTN8 – as we know the cup competition today – was first contested back in 1972.
It features the top eight finishers from the previous season’s DStv Premiership with the champions facing the eighth-placed team, the runners-up taking on the seventh-placed side – and so on.
While the quarter-finals are one-off matches, the semi-finals are played over two legs.
Cellular giants MTN have sponsored the event since 2008.
Prior to that (from 1972 to 2002) it was known as BP Top Eight Cup (sponsored by BP) and the SAA Super Eight Cup from 2003 to 2007 (sponsored by South African Airways).
This year’s tournament will be the 50th edition.
So who has tasted the most success the previous 49 times the competition was held?
No surprise to learn that Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs lead the way with 15 titles, followed by their bitter rivals Orlando Pirates with 12.
MTN8 ROLL OF HONOUR
Kaizer Chiefs – 15
Orlando Pirates – 12
Mamelodi Sundowns – 4
Moroka Swallows – 3
Bidvest Wits – 3
SuperSport United – 3
Arcadia Shepherds – 1
Santos – 1
Jomo Cosmos – 1
Witbank Black Aces – 1
Bloemfontein Celtic – 1
Golden Arrows – 1
Platinum Stars – 1
Ajax Cape Town – 1
City of Cape Town – 1
Who will lift the trophy on Saturday evening?
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