Pirates' exploits in MTN8

Orlando Pirates are seeking to become the first club to win three successive top-eight competitions when they defend the MTN8 title they won in 2022 and 2023.

They begin their bid at home to SuperSport United on Saturday when the competition … and the new season … gets underway.

It is the first of the four quarterfinal matches in the latest edition of a knockout competition that is unique to South Africa

Pirates are 12-time past winners of the competition, which is more than a half-century old, and did the double previously twice.

The first was in 1996 and 2000 (the tournament was not held for the three years in between) and then again in 2010 and 2011.

Supersport.com looks at what happened each year after Pirates won the competition and how the defence of their crown panned out:

1973: Pirates won the inaugural Top Eight Cup in 1972 by beating Kaizer Chiefs and began the defence of their title in 1973 by beating Witbank Aces 4-2, at the second attempt after their initial clash was abandoned because of bad weather. They, however, came unstuck in the semifinals when they were undone by PUBS in an eight-goal thriller after extra time. It was a 5-3 win for PUBS, with goals scored by Jerry Sadike, George More (2), Ernest Ramohai and George Mchunu.

1974: Two editions of the Top Eight Cup were hosted in 1974, the first final in January when Pirates beat Moroka Swallows 7-6 on aggregate over two legs, needing extra time in the return leg at the Orlando Stadium to take the trophy. The defence of their title began in November with a 3-0 win over PUBS, followed by semifinal success away over AmaZulu. In the final, they met Chiefs and lost 6-2 on aggregate.

1979: Pirates scored a narrow 5-4 aggregate triumph over Benoni in the 1978 final with Meshack Mjanqeka scoring a hattrick for Benoni in the second leg but still ending on the losing side. In defence of their tile, the Buccaneers reached the 1979 final but were always up against it when they lost 3-0 to Swallows in the first leg in KwaMashu and although they won 3-2 in the return, they lost 4-2 on aggregate.

1984: Goals from Kagiso Mogale and Henry ‘Mtofi’ Khumalo saw Pirates beat Highlands Park in the 1983 final but the defence of their crown crashed rather dramatically in the 1985 quarterfinal as they lost 4-1 at home to Arcadia. Wits University went on to win the trophy.

1994: Pirates ended a long trophy drought with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Witbank Aces in the 1993 final. Marks Maponyane scored the only goal as they started the 1994 edition with a quarterfinal win away in Durban over Chatsworth Rangers. But in the semis, they came unstuck with a 0-2 defeat at Mamelodi Sundowns.

2000: A replay was needed after Pirates and QwaQwa Stars drew 1-1 in Durban in their 1996 final. The two clubs then went to Bloemfontein for a replay where Pirates won 3-0, crowned by a great Helman Mkhalele goal. After a four-year hiatus, the competition was back in 2000 and a Thabo Mngomeni penalty in extra time handed Pirates a 2-1 win over Ajax Cape Town in the final.

2011: In the 2010 final, Pirates won 4-2 on penalties at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban after a 1-1 draw with Swallows. The next year they retained their trophy as Oupa Manyisa scored after 107 minutes to beat Chiefs at Soccer City.

2012: Pirates started with a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in the quarterfinals and looked well placed to reach the final for a third successive year when they drew 0-0 away at SuperSport United in the first leg of their semifinal. But Bucs imploded in the second leg at home, beaten 3-0 in the return leg as they collapsed under a second half blitz.

2021: Thembinkosi Lorch’s penalty ensured Pirates came from behind to edge Celtic 2-1 in the 2020 final. In 2021, Pirates were drawn at home to Swallows in the quarterfinal and were stung by two early goals for Ruzaigh Gamildien. Although Kabelo Dlamini’s penalty pulled one back for Pirates they still crashed out at the first hurdle.

2023: A superb freekick from Monnapule Saleng was the difference as Pirates edged AmaZulu in the 2022 final. Pirates then retained their crown with a penalty shootout triumph over the all-conquering Sundowns in the 2023 final in Durban.