CAPE TOWN - Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosimane, believes the MTN8 could be a lucrative tournament for his squad because they will get to keep the R8 000 000 prize money bagged by the eventual champions.
Mosimane has won numurous titles since taking over at Sundowns at the start of the in the 2012/2013 season, including more than one league title and the CAF Champions League, but the MTN8 is the only trophy to elude him. Sundowns have also never won the trophy in its current inclination, since MTN took over sponsorship of the top eight competition in 2008.
"It’s a good competition for the players financially, because you play four games and you win R8 million. To win the Premiership is 26 more games and a R2 million difference (in prize money). I'm not a financial guy, but with my limited knowledge I think maybe the MTN8 is the easy one to win for money," Mosimane told Soccer Laduma.
"I think that the boys need it and once they win it our generous president gives them all of the money. So I hope they don’t say: ‘Let’s win this one, its four games, its R2 million less than the R10 million (for winning the Premiership). Why should we fight for 30 games for the difference of maybe 10 percent of 20 percent’.
"We love the MTN8. We want it. Why not? For us it’s not about money, or maybe personally its not about money. It’s always about winning the titles, and making the team know they have to lift the trophy. There’s one thing I really love to see: when the boys lift a trophy. And you’ll always see me there next to them, because I love that. It’s the culture."
Mosimane will first have to see his way past Golden Arrows, the 2009 MTN8 champions, in the quarter-finals at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow on Saturday (3pm kick-off) if he is to have any hope of completing his trophy collection.
We go again Masandawana! Cup glory awaits.
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 10, 2018