There have been some extraordinary moments in the MTN8 competition down the years and Saturday’s final between Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium is a chance to create another one.
From Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango’s five penalty saves in the final shoot-out last year to late winners, there has always been drama aplenty in the top eight.
We look back on five amazing moments in the top eight competition that live long in the memory.
A TALE OF TWO LEGS
Arguably the biggest comeback victory in almost any South African cup final came in the top-eight competition that was played in early 1974 (there was one at the end of the year too).
It was staged over two legs between Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows, but the story of this epic decider actually starts in the semifinals.
Pirates clashed with their bitter rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, in Meadowlands on January 10, but the match was abandoned in 78 minutes as fans invaded the pitch when Chiefs were disallowed a goal with the score at 2-2.
A reply was ordered and it took place far away in Port Elizabeth on January 19, but was abandoned again, this time on 86 minutes when Pirates, leading 2-1 after a brace from Jomo Sono, were awarded a penalty.
The Buccaneers were declared winners and Chiefs eventually fined R1 000, but the reward for Pirates was to play the first leg of the final the very next day against Swallows!
Clearly the players were exhausted, and they lost 3-1 as Daniel Mophosho (two) and Andries Maseko netted for The Birds in PE.
But the second leg of the final was played on January 26 in Orlando and this time it would be a different story … just.
McDonald Skosana scored twice to level the aggregate score at 3-3, before Sono put Pirates in front. Swallows managed to score three goals through John Makhubu, Edward Mabaso, Daniel Mophosho, but Pirates won the day as Blessing Mgidi, Simon Mothoa, Percy Moloi all netted in a 6-3 win.
Pirates took the title 7-6 on aggregate to claim the silverware in extraordinary fashion.
TWO TOP EIGHT RECORDS FALL IN A SINGLE GAME
The top-eight competition has not always contained eight teams – in fact it has variably been four, 16, 17 and even 32!
That means it is a competition that has at times pitted top teams against lesser opposition and this was the case in 1975 when Moroka Swallows faced Winter Roses in the first round.
There would be two records set on the day as The Birds proved far too strong for their out-gunned opponents.
The 11-1 scoreline is a record in the MTN8 competition through the years and now that it is very much strength v strength, looks unlikely to be beaten anytime soon.
Five of Swallows’ goals were scored by their legendary forward, David Dolo, which is also a competition record, though well short of the South African record. That is nine, held by Hendrick Hartley for Lamontville Golden Arrows against amateurs Richmond Junior Aces in the first round of Benson & Hedges Cup.
Dolo, who passed away in 2019, has little contemporary fame, but was a massive player for Swallows in the 1970s alongside the likes of Mabaso, Enoch Langa, Andries Maseko and Mophosho.
THE ACCIDENTAL KEEPER
Great moments can be defined as brilliant goals or stunning wins, but also heroic individual feats of bravery that are out of the ordinary.
There have been many instances of players having to go in goal to help their side during a match – Lucas Radebe once famously did it for Leeds United against Manchester United in the English Premier League.
But what about having to play the whole match from start to finish because your goalkeeper missed his flight?
That is what happened to Hellenic centre-back Paul Daniels in the 1984 BP Top 8 when the Greek Gods’ gloveman Philip Pnematicatos missed his flight to Johannesburg for the quarterfinal against Moroka Swallows.
In those days there were no substitute keepers or very regular flights between Cape Town and Jo’burg, so Daniels was forced to play the game and did OK, though his side lost 2-1.
MASINGA’S HEROICS NOT ENOUGH
Imagine scoring a hat-trick in a cup final and ending up on the losing side! That happened to the late Phil Masinga, who netted three times for Jomo Cosmos in the 1991 top-eight decider but watched in horror as his defenders let him down.
Masinga’s heroics should have been enough for the win, but Chiefs had a potent attack and a midfield full of weapons in the likes of Doctor Khumalo, Ace Khuse, Fani Madida and Shane McGregor.
Khulamo put Chiefs ahead from the penalty spot, but Masinga equalised. The AmaKhosi led again through McGregor before Masinga levelled once more.
Chiefs continued to dominate and they led again via Madida, but Masinga would not be denied and forced the game into extra-time as he completed his hat-trick.
There would be heartache for the lanky forward though as Madida added a second and Chiefs were this time able to hold on for the win.
There have been two other top-eight final hat-tricks, both by Chiefs players.
Ace Ntsoelengoe managed a treble in the 1976 final as they defeated AmaZulu 8-2 on aggregate, while Marks Maponyane repeated the feat against Rangers in 1987 as Chiefs won the first leg 3-0 before completing a 5-1 aggregate success.
HIT FOR SIX!
Lamontville Golden Arrows entered the 2009 MTN8 under rookie coach Manqoba Mngqithi as rank outsiders despite a strong finish to the season before.
The 38-year-old Mngqithi, a school teacher by trade, had led the side on a late-season flurry in the 2008/09 Premiership season that saw them rush up the table and end in fifth place – until last year their best ever finish.
The Durban side were nice to watch, but not expected to advance far and certainly not expected to make the final.
But they had two little slivers of luck – firstly one of the so-called ‘Big Three’, Mamelodi Sundowns, failed to qualify for the MTN8 that year, which weakened the field. And secondly, they got a fortunate quarterfinal toe with Free State Stars, albeit away.
Musa Bilankulu scored the only goal in a 1-0 success, which set up a semifinal clash against fellow Durban side AmaZulu.
The late Richard Henyekane scored a brace in the first leg as Abafana Bes’thende won 2-1, before Joseph Musonda and Njabulo Manqana netted in a comfortable 2-0 second-leg win.
That meant a final against Ajax Cape Town at the Orlando Stadium that would go down in history – not just as Golden Arrows’ first (and only) major trophy, but also the biggest winning margin in any South African cup final.
Ajax had been left in disarray after coach Muhsin Ertugral left the club high and dry (not for the first time) as he defected to Kaizer Chiefs, with Dutchman Jan Pruijn in temporary charge while Foppe de Haan received his work permit.
The decision to play winger Franklin Cale at left-back cost the Urban Warriors dear as they were cut apart in the 6-0 victory for Arrows, who led 2-0 at halftime and went to town in the second period.
Manqana (two) and Henyekane were on target again, along with Thokozani Mshengu and Nhlanhla Zothwane. Dennis Ivanovs scored an own goal to compound Ajax's woes on the night.