Why Junior Khanye thinks Pirates will lose the MTN8 final
JOHANNESBURG — Orlando Pirates may be chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive MTN8 title, but former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye believes Mamelodi Sundowns will stop that run when the two giants meet in Saturday’s sold-out final.
Pirates and Sundowns will face each other at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 October, with the Buccaneers attempting to extend a remarkable period of dominance in the competition. The PSL has confirmed that tickets for the final are already sold out.
Despite Pirates’ recent record in the tournament, Khanye has backed Sundowns to take the trophy.
Speaking to KickOff, the former Chiefs player acknowledged the quality in the Pirates squad but argued that Sundowns have greater experience and quality in the areas that could decide the final.
Khanye’s prediction comes despite Pirates taking the more convincing route through the semi-finals.
The Buccaneers defeated Sekhukhune United 4-0 on aggregate, winning the first leg 1-0 before producing a 3-0 victory in the return fixture. That result secured their fifth consecutive appearance in the MTN8 final.
Sundowns had a considerably more difficult path. They lost their first semi-final against Golden Arrows 1-0 before responding with a 3-2 victory in Durban. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate, with Sundowns progressing on away goals.
The final nevertheless brings together the two clubs that have established themselves among the strongest sides in South African football, and it will not be their first recent meeting for the MTN8 trophy.
Pirates defeated Sundowns on penalties in the 2023 MTN8 final at the same Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The Durban venue has also become familiar territory for Pirates in cup finals. Since 2010, the Buccaneers have appeared in 11 finals at Moses Mabhida, winning seven, while Sundowns have played five finals there and won three.
That record provides Pirates with considerable history to defend, but Khanye believes Sundowns have enough to end it.
A victory for Pirates would deliver a fifth successive MTN8 crown and extend a run unmatched in the competition. Sundowns, meanwhile, are attempting to reclaim a trophy they have not lifted since 2021.
With the stadium sold out days before kick-off, Khanye’s prediction adds another argument to a final already carrying considerably more than the season’s first piece of domestic silverware.
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