Cape Town City and Mamelodi Sundowns will lock horns at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday in the final of the MTN8.
City have defeated AmaZulu and Swallows to reach the final, while Downs saw off Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows.
Eric Tinkler’s men survived a late scare to beat Golden Arrows 4-3 in the DStv Premiership at the weekend, whereas Downs continued their superb start to the season with a 2-0 win over Maniema Union in the CAF Champions League.
The Citizens are struggling at the moment and are languishing outside the Top 8, while the Brazilians occupy top spot in the DStv Premiership and are the only team still unbeaten.
MTN8 Final
Saturday 30 October
Moses Mabhida Stadium
18:00
To Win Match (90 Min)
Cape Town City 54/10
Draw 26/10
Mamelodi Sundowns 11/20
To Lift Cup
Cape Town City 26/10
Mamelodi Sundowns 1/4
Cape Town City
Despite a poor start to the season, languishing outside the top eight in 11th position, Cape Town City have an opportunity to give their fans something to cheer about this weekend.
Only a single match separates the Citizens from winning their second MTN8 within a space of four years, but standing in their way is Mamelodi Sundowns who will also be eager to win the one trophy that has eluded them for 14 years.
Tinkler’s side go into this clash as underdogs but that is a tag that they have dealt with very well before. On the way to lifting their first MTN8 title in 2018, the Cape Town club defied the odds to upset the Brazilians in the semis with a penalty shoot-out victory.
The Citizens have also picked up some impressive wins against Sundowns in the league over the last few years, proving that they can come up with a plan to beat South Africa’s dominant team.
If they can beat Downs and lift this year’s crown, apart from adding silverware to their trophy cabinet, it will surely give them the confidence they need to slingshot themselves up the DStv Premiership table.
Mamelodi Sundowns
This is one of those games, that on paper, should be a walk in the park for Mamelodi Sundowns. But as we know, football isn’t played on paper, it’s played on the pitch.
Despite being the dominant team in South African football for a period of time now, Masandawana have struggled in this eight-team format in recent years, with the Chloorkop side failing to get past the semi-finals since they were thumped 3-0 by Bidvest Wits in the 2016 final.
Downs will be aiming to finally end their MTN8 hoodoo and get revenge against the Citizens, who dumped them out of the 2018 tournament en route to lifting the trophy.
The Brazilians have made a superb start to the season, picking up where they left off last term. They sit top of the DStv Premiership table, four points clear of second-placed SuperSport having played a game less, and are through to the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
After the win against Maniema Union last weekend, co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi told the media that he is confident his side have the capacity to lift any trophy still on offer this season.
“We are very confident that the group that we have has got the capacity to lift any trophy that is on offer, but we have to take each and every game and give it the seriousness and attention that it deserves.”
The last time the Brazilians won the top eight competition was when it was still known as the SAA Top 8 back in 2007.
Verdict: Mamelodi Sundowns 11/20
Mamelodi Sundowns have been exceptional in recent years and have a point to prove in the MTN8. As much as I love a good underdog, Masandawana should prove too strong for the Citizens.
