Perhaps unsurprisinly, Lucky Lekgwathi thinks Orlando Pirates will beat Sundowns on Saturday evening and win the MTN8. Picture: Backpagepix.
All roads lead to Moses Mabhida Stadium to witness who will be crowned the MTN8 champions with the first piece of silverware of the 2023/2024 campaign up for grabs.
Orlando Pirates are looking to defend their trophy against a Mamelodi Sundowns side still seeking revenge for last season’s defeat in the semifinal of the same competition.
Some familiar football faces have made the trip to Durban in what promises to be a great spectacle. Sold-out signs went up 18 hours after tickets were put on sale.
The Zulu Kingdom is abuzz with excitement ahead of the final. Football lovers from all corners of South Africa have descended upon Africa’s playground for the highly-anticipated winner-takes-all final with R8 million at stake.
Former Buccaneers captain Lucky Lekgwathi is also in the KwaZulu-Natal province. As expected, the decorated legend backed his beloved team to retain the MTN8 trophy with Zakhele Lepasa adding to the four goals he has already scored in the top 8 cup.
“Orlando Pirates will take it 2-0 and Zakhele Lepasa will score two goals,” he predicted when Phakaaathi caught up with him.
“After his call-up to Bafana Bafana and knowing he didn’t score for four of five game, he will make up for it and score two goals.”
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite believes the favourites tag might prove to be The Brazilians’ downfall.
“Pirates haven’t tasted victory in the last three games and they will want to use this big occasion to redeem their dignity,” said Mashamaite who is the last Amakhosi captain to lift the MTN8 cup nine years ago.
“Pirates to win 1-0 because Sundowns will probably go into this game already thinking they are champions and it might work against them.”
Hlompho Kekana is another popular figure with a vested interest in the match. The Sundowns legend who also enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at the club, predicted a 2-0 win for the Tshwane-based side.
Meanwhile, Bucs legend Innocent Chikoya reckons the Soweto giants have a point to prove following the heartbreaking disappointment of failing to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stages
“We lost to the team from Botswana in the champions league and the moral right now will be down,” he told Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000.
“But going into the final, you get a different feeling from the players. They have a point to prove, any team can be beaten on a good day.
“We lost 1-0 (against Sundowns) after a penalty in the league game. We played well but we didn’t have the final pass. You could see we played well in the second half and we must be more clinical.”
Gates will open at 2 pm, four hours before kick-off at the 2010 FIFA World Cup venue where a lucky fan will walk away with R1 million in the last man standing competition.
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