This year’s MTN8 gets underway this weekend with eight teams looking to pick up the first trophy on offer
On Sunday, Arthur Zwane’s bid to lead Kaizer Chiefs to their first MTN8 title since 2015 begins with a trip to Stellenbosch. To wrap up the quarter-finals, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns lock horns with two-time winners SuperSport United at the Tuks Stadium.
Saturday 27 August
12/10 Cape Town City | Draw 21/10 | AmaZulu 9/4 (15:00)
Cape Town City welcome AmaZulu to the Athlone Stadium on Saturday, with Eric Tinkler’s side looking to get the better of Usuthu once again following their 2-1 win at Moses Mabhida in last year’s competition.
Brandon Truter’s men, however, will fancy their chances of victory as they have gone unbeaten against the Citizens since that meeting, recording two wins and a draw in the DStv Premiership. City have had a disastrous start to their league campaign, but they’ve shown in this tournament not to be taken lightly.
However, AmaZulu look stronger following the arrivals of George Maluleka, Ethan Brooks, Gabadinho Mhango and Chidi Kwem, and I’m backing them to oust their opponents and book their ticket to the semi-finals.
33/20 Royal AM | Draw 21/10 | Orlando Pirates 33/20 (18:00)
In the final fixture on Saturday, the most successful team in the competition, Orlando Pirates, will visit Royal AM for the second time after their 1-0 triumph over Dan Malesela’s side in the 2022/23 DStv Premiership, and coach Jose Riveiro will be looking to book his first semi-final spot with the Soweto giants.
But Royal AM’s stubbornness should not be taken for granted, especially at Chatsworth Stadium with the in-form new recruit Andre de Jong. In what promises to be a tight affair, I see this game ending in a draw and penalty shootout will be the decider as to who will advance into the semi-finals.
Sunday 28 August
18/10 Stellenbosch | Draw 21/10 | Kaizer Chiefs 15/10 (15:00)
Stellenbosch will welcome Kaizer Chiefs to the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday afternoon and Amakhosi will be looking to haunt the Stellies at their home ground, as the Naturena outfit seek to claim their first MTN8 trophy since Stuart Baxter last led them to success in 2015. As the recent head to head results show, the Cape Town side won’t be a walkover for Chiefs. Steve Barker’s side have won two and drawn three of their first five meetings with the Glamour Boys. This might be unpopular but I’m backing Stellenbosch to win as I haven’t been impressed with Chiefs.
9/10 Mamelodi Sundowns | Draw 21/10 | SuperSport United 33/10 (18:00)
We end things off with the Tshwane derby! This will be a very entertaining encounter between the two Pretoria rivals, with both clubs exchanging players in the transfer market. Sundowns will be looking to become the second team to successfully defend the MTN8 title after Orlando Pirates. Downs will head into this clash as firm favourites.
As for SuperSport United, they have started the new season very flat, but they are known for being a team that always shows up when it comes to cup competitions, and they have won the Wafa Wafa title twice.
Despite Gavin Hunt’s side having a bad start in their league campaign, form goes out the window in the Tshwane derby and you can expect them to show up as the sides battle it out for bragging rights. I expect this game to produce a couple of goals, as it has before, but Downs will eliminate SuperSport United.
QUAD @ 52/1
AmaZulu Win 9/4
Royal AM vs Pirates – Draw 21/10
Stellenbosch Win 18/10
Sundowns Win 9/10
