Orlando Pirates FC are gearing up to defend their MTN8 crown this weekend at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The Buccaneers are up against Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch FC on Saturday evening.
The double-defending champions booked their place in the finals after breezing past Cape Town City in the two-legged semi-finals.
Stellenbosch on the other hand earned a superb 2-0 on aggregate victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Now, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC meet for one final bout on Saturday evening and Jose Riveiro’s side have been handed a timely boost. Read all about it below.
Orlando Pirates handed suspension boost
Jose Riveiro’s side welcome the return of full-back Thabiso Monyane for Saturday’s MTN8 final.
Monyane missed Orlando Pirates previous match due to suspension, after accumulating four yellow cards.
Deano Van Rooyen, Jose Riveiro’s first choice right-back at the moment, will play no part for the Buccaneers on Saturday.
The speedy full-back already played for Stellenbosch in this season’s MTN8, prior to securing a transfer to Orlando Pirates, and is therefore ‘cup-tied’.
In other news, Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi has selected his all-time favourite footballer.
The diminutive midfielder joined the Buccaneers at the beginning of last season from SuperSport United.
In just over a year, ‘Tito’ has already established himself as one of the top players in South Africa.
Maswanganyi scored 11 goals and assisted 12 more in just 48 matches for Orlando Pirates thus far.
And now, he has chosen his football icon! Let’s take a look at the details below.
Bucs star picks Teko Modise as his GOAT
“For me, it’s got to be Teko Modise, because I grew up watching him and the way he plays, the way he dresses. For me was a key point in my career, I always wanted to be like him,” Maswanganyi said as quoted by IDiski Times.
“I always tried to copy him but we are different people and I have to be myself sometimes but he played a big role in my life so I had to adjust and try to be like him, so yeah.”
Who’s your local football hero? Let us know in the comments section below.
Who are you backing to lift the MTN8 title?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
