DURBAN - SuperSport United will lock horns with Cape Town City at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday at 7pm, eyeing to become the third side to defend the crown in the history of the competition.
Matsatsantsa A Pitori are the defending champions, having beaten the same side in the final last season via penalties at the same venue.
In the era of MTN, who started sponsoring the competition back in 2008, the Buccaneers are the only team to win back-to-back MTN8 crowns.
Pirates dispatched Moroka Swallows in the final in 2010 on penalties at Moses Mabhida and then defended their crown as they eased past Chiefs in 2011. Since then, no other side has managed to win the cup back to back.
Chiefs failed in 2016 as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Ajax Cape Town in Port Elizabeth. Amakhosi won the competition in 2015 at the expense of the Buccaneers at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
So, defending the MTN8 is no child’s play. United have to work extra hard if they want to write their name in the history books.
The top eight was formed in 1972 when it was still called BP Top Eight. Pirates won the inaugural competition and came back to defend their title in 1973.
Pirates achieved the same feat in 2010 and 2011. Amakhosi won it back to back in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1991 and 1992.
SuperSport are eyeing to join that group of elite teams. It won’t be easy against a hungry City side. There’s no doubt that they want to seek revenge over Matsatsantsa for last year’s defeat.
SuperSport achieved the unthinkable before. They became the second side in the Premier Soccer League era to win the league three seasons in a row.
In 2017, SuperSport became the first side in 35 years to defend the Nedbank Cup.
They achieved that feat at Moses Mabhida Stadium, which happens to be the same venue that they might also do the unthinkable on Saturday night.
Two more days to go 🔥🔥 #ForeverUnited #MTN8Final pic.twitter.com/Uoib3BqqJg
— SuperSport United FC (@SuperSportFC) September 27, 2018