While the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC will most likely be a closely contested affair, the experience, squad depth and superior Cup pedigree will help deliver the third successive title to the Soweto giants.
The two sides have been working around the clock to devise tactics to outsmart each other in the battle to clinch the lucrative competition when they meet at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
This sold-out affair will kick off at 18:00, with loads of entertainment promised to the fans who arrive early at the venue.
But the battle to walk away with the cheque of R10 million and the trophy will be won by the Sea Robbers in the coastal city.
This is not because the Steve Barker-coached Stellies are a bad or weak team. They are far from that and worked so hard to dispatch TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns en route to the final.
I believe the Buccaneers will leave Durban for Johannesburg with the trophy and the hefty prize cheque.
Pirates boast more experience in these high-profile games and have proven they know how to win them.
The Skull and Crossbones have played four finals in the past two seasons under coach Jose Riveiro, who has turned the Soweto giants into Cup machines.
Riveiro has won the MTN8 two times in a row, beating AmaZulu FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at the same venue in Durban.
They also won back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles, beating Sekhukhune United and Sundowns in the finals.
Though Riveiro’s team has changed over the past two years, most of the players that he achieved this success with, are still there.
In all these finals, the Buccaneers have come up against different tests where sometimes they had to learn to suffer without the ball and still prevailed.
The Maroons of Stellenbosch will be a handful and push Pirates to the limit, but the experience they’ve garnered over the past two years will (be at the forefront of their success) come through for them.
Also, Pirates are chasing to make history of becoming the first side to win the MTN8 three times on the trot. That should serve as an extra motivation to the players and the technical team.
Riveiro seems to have found and settled with his starting 11 as he has been consistent with his selection since the beginning of the campaign.
The Sea Robbers have one of their dangermen and 2023 Players’ Player of the Season Monnapule Saleng in scintillating form.
Saleng has scored four goals across all competitions this season and provided a single assist.
He has been labelled as the early front-runner for the Player of the Season and the North West-born star tends to pitch up and show off in big games.
Apart from Saleng, Pirates is blessed with massive squad depth with players who can come off the bench and change the game.
You can count the players such as Karim Kimvuidi, Kabelo Dlamini, Evidence Makgopa, skipper Innocent Maela and Nkosinathi Sibisi.
Pirates appear to be more comfortable in their game and a lot seems to be going well for them this season.
