Orlando Pirates won an unprecedented third MTN8 title on the bounce at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Their bank balance has swollen.
Orlando Pirates win MTN8 thriller in controversial circumstances
Lehlohonolo Mejola scored a stunner in the 12th minute to put a cat among the pigeons for Stellenbosch, but Pirates hit back through big-game player Monnapule Saleng on 43 minutes. Super-sub Tshegofatso Mabasa put Pirates in front on 91 minutes amid huge controversy after a free kick was taken a few yards ahead of where the foul took place. Referee Abongile Tom allowed the goal. Relebohile Mofokeng put the icing on the cake in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. 3-1 to Pirates is how it ended. That’s R10 million prize money in the bank for the Buccaneers.
Updated MTN8 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 Betway 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.
- Before 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 was the 50th edition.
- So who has tasted the most success the previous 49 times the competition was held?
- Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs lead the way with 15 titles, followed by bitter rivals Orlando Pirates with 13.
- Pirates are the first side since the tournament’s inception to win the title three years in a row.
Caf Champions League group stage awaits
Pirates are back at the top table of African continental competition following their routine aggregate win over Jwaneng Galaxy. They’ll participate in the 2024-2024 Caf Champions League group stages, and they bank a minimum of R12 million in the process. Advancement to the quarter-finals would swell Pirates’ earnings to R15.6 million and the money keeps getting better the further they go. Look below:
Left-footed Maswanganyi wears 10 in Caf competition, Mofokeng handed a strange number
The fabled number 10 jersey, retired in domestic league competition since Jomo Sono hung his boots up, is still available in continental competition. The honour has been handed to the silky left foot of Patrick Maswanganyi. Here are the other numbers including a strange choice for prodigy playmaker Mofokeng. The 19-year-old became a bona fide star last season and is now a full Bafana Bafana international, capable of playing centrally or as a ball carrier in wide channels.
- Melusi Buthelezi – 1
- Relebohile Mofokeng – 3
- Siphelo Baloni – 22
- Patrick Maswanganyi – 10
- Thabiso Sesane – 28
What are your thoughts on Mabasa’s goal, should it have stood?
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