All eight teams will have their eye on the final this year and not just R8-million in prize-money, but also the prestige of being champions.
As ever, the captain of the teams will be crucial in guiding their sides through the hurdles they face, with some of the leading names in the local game having lifted this trophy as skipper in the past. We look back on the last eight captain’s of the MTN8-winning teams.
2014 – TEFU MASHAMAITE (KAIZER CHIEFS)
Tefu Mashamaite was captain of Kaizer Chiefs the last time they won the MTN8 trophy and got the goal that sealed the triumph over Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
The centre-back also led the side to the league title in the 2014/15 season before leaving for Swedish outfit Hacken in what proved an ill-fated move as he suffered a serious knee injury that would bother him for the rest of his career.
He returned to South Africa for the 2016/17 campaign with SuperSport United, but only made four league starts over two seasons and did not play professionally again.
2015 – TRAVIS GRAHAM (AJAX CAPE TOWN)
Midfielder Travis Graham was just 22 when he captained Ajax Cape Town to a 1-0 triumph over Kaizer Chiefs in the 2015 final with what was mostly a team packed with youthful energy.
It is fair to say he has not really fulfilled his huge potential since, though a bad injury in 2017 put the brakes on his career an while he has resurrected things to an extend at Maritzburg United in the last few years, was also not helped by a contract dispute that kept him sidelined for a long period.
He has been injured at the start of this season but is in contention to return to the Team of Choice match-day squad soon.
2016 – THULANI HLATSHWAYO (BIDVEST WITS)
BidVest Wits romped to a 3-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2016 final in a surprisingly one-sided showing.
They were ably led by centre-back Thulani Hlatshwayo, who formed a solid partnership with Buhle Mkwanazi in the heart of the defence. The pair would also lead the team to the league title at the end of the campaign.
Hlatshwayo stayed with Wits until their sale in 2020, when he moved to boyhood idols Orlando Pirates, though he struggled for form and game-time with The Buccaneers. That said, he was also their captain for the final when Pirates lifted the MTN8 in his first season.
2017 – DEAN FURMAN (SUPERSPORT UNITED)
Midfielder Dean Furman was the ever-reliable skipper of SuperSport United as they defeated Cape Town City on penalties to lift the MTN8.
It would be the first of two wins in three seasons for Furman, who continued to lead the side until he left to return to England in 2020.
He left an indelible mark on Matsatsantsa and is one of the most successful captains in their history having also been part of their 2016 and 2017 Nedbank Cup title wins.
2018 – THAMSANQA MKHIZE (CAPE TOWN CITY)
Right-back Thami Mkhize had only been Cape Town City captain for a little over a month when they won the MTN8 final by beating SuperSport United on penalties, revenge for their defeat 12 months earlier.
He had been handed the role by coach Benni McCarthy following the exit of Robyn Johannes and got his hands on some immediate silverware.
He remains skipper of the side four years on and will be looking to do the same in 2022 having racked up the record for the most appearances for the club since their formation in the 2016/17 campaign.
2019 – DEAN FURMAN (SUPERSPORT UNITED)
Dean Furman was skipper again as SuperSport United lifted the title with a 1-0 victory over Highlands Park in the decider.
It would eb his last trophy with the team before joining Carlisle United in the 2020/21 season having spent five successful campaigns with Matsatsantsa.
He later played briefly for Altrincham in the English fifth-tier and then ambitious Warrington Rylands in the seventh-tier, who he helped to promotion last season and remains a crucial member of their squad.
2020 – THULANI HLATSHWAYO (ORLANDO PIRATES)
> Another opportunity to lift the trophy for Thulani Hlatshwayo, who had only been at Orlando Pirates a matter of months when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic in the final.
It would be a high point in his disappointing stay at the club that saw him sidelined in his second season with loss of form.
He spent two seasons there but has since moved to SuperSport United, where he is reunited with former Wits coach Gavin Hunt.
He is now skipper of SuperSport, so has the chance this year to make it a hattrick of MTN8 title wins as skipper.
2021 – DENIS ONYANGO (MAMELODI SUNDOWNS)
Goalkeeper Denis Onyango certainly gave a captain’s performance in the final against Cape Town City as he saved five penalties in a row in the post-match shoot-out to see his side to the trophy.
With regular club captain Hlompho Kekana no longer considered for the first team, Onyango was given the armband and did not disappoint in one of the great individual displays in the competition’s history.
The arrival of Ronwen Williams at the club has seen veteran Onyango, so far, relegated to the bench, so he might not get to lift the trophy as skipper again if they retain their title in 2022.