Stellies to spoil Pirates’ hat-trick hopes in MTN8 final?

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Oct 04, 2024. 15:00

Stellenbosch FC will look to spoil Orlando Pirates’ hopes of winning a third successive MTN8 title when the teams meet in the final on Saturday 5 October 2024 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Kick-off is at 18:00 CAT.

Pirates, who have 12 MTN8 titles overall and claimed the trophy in both 2022 and 2023, earned their place in the final by overcoming SuperSport United (3-1) and Cape Town City (3-1 on aggregate).

Stellenbosch secured their first MTN8 final appearance by taking down TS Galaxy (3-1) and reigning league champions Mamelodi Sundowns (2-0 on aggregate).

Both teams have been in fine form across all competitions in the 2024-25 season. The Buccaneers are unbeaten in 10 matches across MTN8, Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League, most recently defeating Richards Bay 1-0 away from home this past Sunday.

Stellies, meanwhile, have lost just once across 10 matches in the MTN8, Betway Premiership and CAF Confederation Cup. They were also in action this past Sunday, drawing 1-1 away to Polokwane City.

“We have to accept Stellenbosch the way they are. We respect them big time,” noted Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, who is expecting a tough encounter in the final.

“We faced Stellenbosch four times last season in the MTN8 semifinal and in our two games in the league. We beat them once (in the MTN8) it took us 94 minutes in Athlone to beat them against 10 players. We didn’t get the results in any of the other games.”

Stellies counterpart Steve Barker is hoping to bring a second major trophy to the club (after their Carling Knockout triumph last season) but also believes that Pirates’ class and pedigree in the competition makes them the favourites.

“So they’re a really good team and I think they’ve gotten even better, so it will be a tough ask when the team is going for a treble [three MTN8 titles in a row],” said Barker.

“The coach and the team seem to be doing very well in cup competitions so I would see them seeing themselves as cup specialists right now.”

In head-to-head stats, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC have met in three previous cup matches, with the Soweto side holding a 2-1 advantage in terms of wins (including an away-goals triumph in their two-legged MTN8 semifinal last season).

Overall, the teams have clashed in 13 matches across all competitions since Stellies’ promotion to the top flight in 2019: the Buccaneers have five wins compared to the Cape side’s four, with four games ending in draws.

Stellies completed a league ‘double’ over Pirates last season, winning 1-0 in the Cape in August 2023 and 3-2 in the return game in Soweto in December 2023.