MTN 8 defending champions Orlando Pirates have set their sights on an unprecedented fifth straight title. But they host a tricky Durban City in the quarterfinals at the Orlando Arena in Soweto on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates earned permanent ownership of the previous MTN 8 trophy, after winning it three times in a row under former coach Jose Riveiro.
Abdeslam Ouaddou continued with that tradition, winning his first trophy with the Buccaneers just months after taking over the reins. A fifth successive title is now in their sights, but captain Nkosinathi Sibisi is wary of a tricky Durban City.
“I think it’s competition that now we are so used to be at we used to winning I think we just want to keep that feeling I think the boys have prepared as well as possible for the game on Saturday and you know it’s always nice to be the curtain raiser and try and set the tone. So, for us we are looking forward to play Durban City, we know it’s going to be a difficult game, but we are sure if we bring our a-game we will be able to get the result,” says Sibisi.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns will want to redeem themselves after failing to win a single trophy in the local front last season. But they were crowned CAF Champions League Champions for a second time in May.
They welcome Polokwane City in Pretoria on Saturday evening, and Aubrey Modiba says they want to win a domestic trophy for their supporters.
“League games and cup competitions are very different ball games because in a tournament you know you can suffer until the penalties and you know in the penalties anything can happen. So, I think for us we must try to treat cup competitions differently from the league games because if we can be able to do that, we can go far in these competitions. But like you said they fight man to man they make sure that you know they leave their skin and everything in the field which is something exciting to watch,” says midfielder Aubrey Modiba.
AmaZulu are up against Sekhukhune United and captain Riaan Hanamub says playing at home will motivate them.
“Sekhukhune is a very tough team with quality players and I think they have done well in the past years so I think they deserve that respect, we are going to give them that respect but at the same time we playing at the KZN we have to show dominance, we have to make sure that we make our supporters happy and I think that’s what we are ready to do,” says captain Riaan Hanamub.
Kaizer Chiefs are back in the thick of things and clash with Golden Arrows.
For Amakhosi captain Brandon Petersen and the team, it was tough watching the MTN8 from their lounges the last two seasons.
“For us it’s obviously good to be back it’s not nice not to be in the MTN 8 and not playing in the weekend watching others so it’s good to be back I think that alone it’s motivation for us because we felt not being part of it so I think now under coach Fernando he likes to have the ball he likes to dominate you know and for us we know it’s going to be a difficult encounter playing Golden Arrows,” says Petersen.
The semi-final draw will be conducted after the Chiefs-Arrows match on Sunday evening.
