DURBAN – The MTN8 semi-finals will present an opportunity for Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City to exact revenge over their opponents, SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively.
Amakhosi will face Matsatsantsa A Pitori while the Citizens will come up against the Brazilians.
Chiefs will visit SuperSport on Sunday at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The two sides met last season in the quarter-final of the MTN8 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Matsatsantsa sent Amakhosi packing thanks to a well taken goal by Jeremy Brockie.
Chiefs haven’t lifted silverware in three seasons. There’s no doubt that they will want to get the better of SuperSport, reach the final and claim the R8 million prize money.
The victory will mean revenge for Amakhosi. Chiefs are under pressure to do well in this competition since they haven’t started well in the league.
They won’t find it easy though against Matsatsantsa. SuperSport are the defending champions of this competition.
They won it at the expense of Cape Town City last season. They are looking to be the third side in the history of the competition to defend their crown since its inception in 1972.
Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are the only sides in the competition to win the trophy back to back.
Pirates did it in 1972, 1973, 1996, 2000 following a break in the competition, and 2010 and 2011, while Chiefs won it in succession in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 1991 and 1992.
SuperSport rolled past Pirates on penalties at the first hurdle. They have another Soweto giant in front of them.
Amakhosi are the most successful team in the history of the MTN8 with 15 titles under their name.
The last time they won a trophy was in 2014/15. They captured the double, winning the MTN8 and the Absa Premiership.
Officials conduct the draw for the MTN8 semi-finals. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Both coaches of the two clubs are searching for their maiden triumphs. Kaitano Tembo was appointed as the Supersport head coach at the beginning of this season.
He served as an assistant to various coaches for many years.
Giovanni Solinas is also new at Amakhosi. He is also searching for his first piece of silverware. So, there’s lots to fight for in this game.
Revenge will be in the minds of Amakhosi in their quest to end the barren run.
Another side that will be gunning for revenge is Cape Town City. Masandawana dumped the Citizens out in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup last season.
City had a glorious opportunity to play the final in front of their home fans. The Premier Soccer League announced before the quarter-finals that the final will be played at Cape Town Stadium.
City had home advantage against Sundowns. They were brimming with confidence after beating Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the last 16. Sundowns spoiled the party for City as they got the better of them 2-1. The Nedbank Cup also presented City with an opportunity to go back to the Caf Confederation Cup.
Sundowns ended all of those dreams.
Ebrahim Seedat and his Cape Town City will play Sundowns in Cape Town on Saturday. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
City will host Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday at 3pm in the first leg and then travel to Lucas Moripe Stadium to face Masandawana in the return leg on September 1.
The clash will be all about revenge for City. Last season they failed at the last hurdle in the same competition as they succumbed to SuperSport United on penalties.
Benni McCarthy, the coach at City is also searching for his first trophy as a head coach.
He is up against the master tactician in Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns have enjoyed a trophy laden spell under Mosimane. The MTN8 is the last piece missing in his puzzle as the coach of Sundowns. He has done it all except the MTN8. Mosimane possesses three league crowns, Telkom Knockout, Nedbank Cup, Caf Champions League and the Caf Super Cup.
Sundowns haven’t won the trophy in 10 years. The last time they went all the way in the competition was in 2007 when SAA was still sponsoring the top 8 cup.
They haven’t won the competition under the era of MTN. Whether City and Chiefs will be able to gain revenge over the teams from the country’s capital, it remains to be seen.