The sold-out final that could give Pirates five in a row
DURBAN — Orlando Pirates are one match away from winning an unprecedented fifth successive MTN8 title, but standing between them and another piece of South African football history are Mamelodi Sundowns in a sold-out final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The two clubs meet on 10 October at 18:00, with all available tickets already snapped up. The Premier Soccer League confirmed that no tickets will be sold at the stadium and warned supporters against buying from unauthorised sellers.
Pirates enter the final with an extraordinary recent record in the competition. The Buccaneers are appearing in their fifth consecutive MTN8 final and are chasing a fifth straight title, having turned the tournament into one of their most reliable sources of silverware.
Sundowns arrive with a very different recent history in the competition. Despite their wider success in South African football, the Pretoria club has not lifted the MTN8 since 2021. Victory in Durban would therefore end that wait while denying Pirates another record-extending triumph.
The routes taken by the two clubs to the final also differed considerably.
Pirates dispatched Sekhukhune United 4-0 on aggregate in the semifinals, winning the first leg 1-0 before producing a 3-0 victory at home. Sundowns had to recover from a 1-0 first-leg defeat against Golden Arrows and won the return fixture 3-2, progressing after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.
The final comes with the rivalry between Pirates and Sundowns carrying greater weight than it has for years. Pirates ended a 14-year wait for the league championship last season, while Sundowns responded by winning the CAF Champions League, leaving two of the country’s most successful sides competing for another major trophy early in the new campaign.
Pirates could also receive an attacking boost for the final, with striker Evidence Makgopa among players who could return after the FIFA international break. His availability would strengthen a Pirates attack preparing for one of its biggest domestic tests of the season.
For supporters attending the game, gates at Moses Mabhida Stadium will open at 14:00, four hours before kick-off. The PSL has warned that only valid digital tickets will be accepted. Screenshots and printed tickets will not provide entry, and every spectator, including children, must have a valid ticket.
Those without tickets will still be able to watch the final live on SABC 1 and SuperSport PSL, with the sold-out stadium providing another indication of the interest surrounding a meeting between the two clubs.
For Pirates, another victory would extend a run in the MTN8 that no other club has matched. For Sundowns, Saturday offers the opportunity to stop that run and lift the trophy for the first time in five years.
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