Vuyo Mere calls on Mamelodi Sundowns to strengthen defense ahead of MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates

The Orlando Pirates team, possessing a relatively young squad and a new look, intends to play without fear, with responsibility, and determination when facing the fully formed Mamelodi Sundowns team in the MTN8 final, which will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening at 18:00.

Pirates are on track to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive MTN8 title. However, they need to achieve this with a squad that is still in the process of integrating after several departures of key players and injuries in recent months.

The heart of the team was refreshed from the start with the signing of Tapelo Mokobodi and Mtheteleli Mthiyani from Stellenbosch, who filled the gaps left by the injuries of Talente Mbati and Sichle Nduli.

In attack, young players Mpho Padime and Simphiwe Masilela have shown potential, but coach Abdeslam Waddu expressed disappointment with their showy performances, especially when opportunities arise to secure a victory.

Preparation for the clash with Sundowns

Facing the relentless and aggressive attack of Sundowns, which includes Bryan Leon, Cassius Mailula, Tashrik Matthews, and Antonio Van Wyk, Pirates may face difficulties if they deviate from their game plan and basic principles.

Nevertheless, Buccaneers captain Tapelo Shoki remains composed. He is convinced that the players deserve their place in the club and are fully ready to defend the MTN8, Betway Premiership, and Carling Knockout trophies.

'First of all, they didn't reach this stage by chance. They worked hard and earned their spot. The club entrusted them with the roles and responsibilities they have. For us, it is always to remind them of that,' said Shoki.

He added that the players must play in their own style, as this style brought them to this stage, and that they are currently in a week where some of them are playing in their first final, but they are not at risk.

The young players and newcomers receive good support. The FIFA international break played in the team's favor, allowing Mbati and Mahlenni Makhaule to fully recover and return to the fight for the final.

'There are guys who have played in some of these finals,' Shoki continued. 'There are guys who will guide them on that day. There is also technical staff who is experienced enough to know what is required and what to tell them. They are not at risk. They are ready.'

'Everyone wearing the Orlando Pirates jersey is ready. Years of sacrifice and preparation have brought them here. It is just a moment for them to do it.'

The MTN8 tournament final is scheduled for October 10th and will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. These teams, which have consistently been in the top two of the league over the last four seasons, are vying for the first trophy of the season, making the confrontation highly significant.

Pirates will host Sundowns in the MTN8 final at the fully packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 18:00. This match has generated huge excitement, leading to a temporary disruption on the ticket sales website on Friday after sales began, as both teams are strong contenders.

Orlando Pirates are favored in this game, as they are the reigning champions of this competition and aim to secure their fourth consecutive title, being considered by many to be the best team in the league at the moment.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has not only built a team capable of winning cup tournaments, having won the last two finals and reached the MTN8 final twice in a row (the fifth for the club), but has also created a machine for accumulating points in the league.

In a week, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will play a match in the #MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, which will be broadcast on SuperSport.

Nevertheless, Pirates are not in ideal form. Their squad depth has suffered due to players who left the club during the pre-season, as well as injuries early in the campaign, forcing Ouaddou to use young and new players.

Ouaddou has faced difficulties, noting that some of his players are not demonstrating sufficient goal-scoring productivity, while Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane have shown inconsistent play. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the immaturity of some young footballers, who are prone to showboating.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Ouaddou has faced harsh criticism for repeated threats to leave the club if his team does not improve its style of play in a more constructive direction. However, the team has achieved necessary results: they are in the MTN8 final, putting pressure on Sundowns in the league, trailing by only one point with one game in hand, and have qualified for the final stage of the CAF Champions League group stage, where they will play against African Stars from Namibia in two matches.

These successes are not accidental; Pirates have scored goals at crucial moments, and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine continues to perform as 'Mr. Clean Sheets', reliably defending the goal.

Sundowns represent a serious opponent for the 'Sea Robbers'. They not only lead the league but are also the newly crowned champions of the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, in the final of which they might meet Paris Saint-Germain.

Like Pirates, Sundowns have managed to achieve their goals by winning matches. Furthermore, they have not lost yet, but this does not mean they are a perfectly coordinated machine, especially considering that coach Miguel Cardoso is disappointed with his team's inability to keep clean sheets despite high attacking power.

It is expected that the midfield turnover of Sundowns will face a challenge from Pirates, as they may be without defensive midfielder Teboho Mokoena and substitute Bathusi Aubaas after sustaining injuries during the international window with the Bafana Bafana B team. Nevertheless, thanks to a large player reserve, Cardoso will likely find replacements for these two players, such as Sphelele Mkhulise, which explains the club's willingness to spend heavily on acquiring top market players.

The significance of the clash in Durban will depend not only on the form or squad depth but also on the desire of the teams to give their all on the field. Given the progress of both teams since the start of the season and in recent years, the match is expected to live up to high expectations.

The MTN8 tournament final is scheduled for October 10 and will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban between the Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns teams. These two giants of South African football are expected to attract a large football audience in Durban, based on the scale of previous MTN8 finals.

Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the match at 18:00, and ticket sales will begin online on Friday. The city council anticipates that over 50,000 fans and visitors will arrive in eThekwini to attend the final.

Experience of Past Finals

This figure is significant considering that Moses Mabhida Stadium has hosted major cup finals in recent years. When Pirates and Sundowns met in the MTN8 final in 2023 at this venue, approximately 60,000 spectators attended in Durban. The municipality calculated that this event generated 43 million rand in direct spending and added another 108 million rand to the local GDP.

Ticket demand was also enormous. The 2023 final sold out within just 18 hours of sales starting: tickets were released on Thursday at 15:00 and were sold out by 9:00 the following morning.

In the following year, the MTN8 final between Pirates and Stellenbosch at Moses Mabhida Stadium attracted over 60,000 viewers and was also completely sold out. KwaZulu-Natal officials reported that hotels and accommodation in eThekwini were fully booked as fans traveled from other provinces to attend the final.

Ticket demand in 2024 was even faster: the PSL confirmed that tickets for the Pirates versus Stellenbosch final sold out within four hours.

Examples of Economic Impact

The Nedbank Cup 2025 final between Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates demonstrated another example of interest in major football events in Durban. According to the ticket sales process report, 41,000 tickets available to the public were sold in approximately 90 minutes. Economic impact forecasts were also substantial: the 2025 final was expected to generate over 93 million rand in direct economic effect, with the total contribution to Durban's GDP, including indirect and induced effects, exceeding 230 million rand.

Therefore, fans planning a trip to Durban for this current final should prepare in advance. Tickets cost 150 rand and will be sold exclusively online via Open Tickets starting at 10:00 on Friday. Subscribers can purchase a maximum of four tickets per transaction, with an online queue expected due to projected demand.

After securing tickets, accommodation may become the next issue, especially for fans traveling from outside KwaZulu-Natal. The city has urged visitors to plan their trips well in advance and use public transport wherever possible, confirming that it is coordinating with the PSL, stadium administration, law enforcement, and emergency services regarding the match organization.

Full details regarding transport, traffic management, fan parks, and other match-day activities have not yet been announced. However, previous finals have shown that MTN8 has the potential to turn Durban into a hub for football and tourism for the weekend, as fans spend money on accommodation, restaurants, transport, entertainment, and other local businesses. As Pirates and Sundowns meet again in the final—just three years after their previous clash at the same stadium—the city is preparing for another potentially grand football weekend.