By NAKAMPE LEKWADU
MAMELODI Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have avoided each other in the semi-finals of the MTN8 after the two Gauteng Giants were pitted against the Cape sides.
Under their new technical team headed by Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve “Koloi” Komphela as the senior coach and Romain Folz (assistant coach), the Brazilians struggled to a hard fought 1-0 (own goal) victory over the visiting Polokwane City on Sunday, August 11 during the quarter-final match which was played at Atteridgeville’s Lucas Moripe Stadium.
This was Mngqithi’s first official match since his appointment after the departure of Rhulani Mokoena, and Sundowns failed dismally to produce the much awaited fireworks before they could earn their passage through to the semis via a 102 minutes own goal by Rise and Shine’s Thabang Matuludi.
Sundowns will take on Stellenbosch FC who ejected TS Galaxy out of the competition with a deserving 3-1 victory a week ago (on August 4)
Meanwhile the competition’s defending champions, Orlando Pirates will face Cape Town City in another semifinal match. The mighty Maulers started the competition’s title defensive journey when they beat SuperSport United 3-1 in the first quarter-final match on Saturday, August 3. The Sea Robbers however had to sweat for 120 minutes to realize victory after the two sides were deadlocked at goal for the regulated 90 minutes.
Pirates have done well for themselves in this competition in recent years after having clichéd its coveted trophy three times, first during the 2020/21 season and then 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. It remain to be seen as to whether the Soweto giants will keep the same momentum and overcome the Cape side in this two legged semi-finals which will be played home and away.
MTN has since raised the prize-money bar by adding an extra R2 million which will see the winning team smiling all the way to the bank with a cool R10 million as opposed to the initial R8 million.
