SuperSport are becoming SA’s cup kings – Pieterse

The Capital city-based side has, over the past two seasons, reached the Telkom Knockout final twice, winning one, and they successfully defended the Nedbank Cup title, while the 2017 MTN8 trophy became the latest piece of silverware in their trophy cabinet.

“Yes, I do believe that we are becoming cup kings, and that’s not bragging, but it is because of the hard work that we put out every time and the determination,” Pieterse told Phakaaathi.

The title of South African cup kings – by records – belongs to Kaizer Chiefs, but with their trophy cabinet gathering dust paired with spider webs since the takeover of Steve Komphela – Amakhosi have uncharacteristically abandoned that title, allowing Matsatsantsa to wear those glory garments.

In this year calendar, Eric Tinkler’s side has an opportunity to complete a treble of trophies as they await in eager anticipation in what could perhaps be the jewel in the crown in Matsatsantsa’s trophy cabinet in the form of the Caf Confederation Cup final.

SuperSport will look to snatch Africa’s second premium club trophy out of the hands of the incumbent champions, TP Mazembe of the DRC. United will travel to Lubumbashi on November 17 for the first-leg, and will hope to lift the title a week later in the Pretoria return-leg.

Although the duo have met twice in the competition as they advanced to the knockout stages from the same group, Matsatsantsa were held to a goalless draw at home, and played an entertaining 2-2 draw in Lubumbashi.

Mazembe are a seasoned team in continental football, having won the more prestigious Champions League on five occasions, the most recent being in 2015.

To further contextualize their experience and their know-how in continental football, The Ravens will be making a sixth appearance in a Caf final in nine years, while in contrast, Matsatsantsa A Pitori will only be making their maiden appearance in the final, which automatically sets Tinkler’s side on the backfoot.

However, Pieterse says SuperSport do not mind carrying the underdog tag.

“TP Mazembe are experienced in this competition, so we have to be play smart and be clever and obviously we are the underdogs in the game,” he said.

“But that is what we like because at the end of the day we have come out strong on many occasions when we were underdogs.

“We know what we are up against and we will prepare for them. I believe that we have the team to get make sure that we win that trophy.”