Between them, the protagonists in this weekend MTN8 semifinals have dominated the competition in the past, by winning more than half of the previous tournaments.
This year marks the 48th time the top eight competition is played, since it was first conceived in 1972 at the genesis of the National Professional Soccer League, the forerunner of professional football in the country today.
Kaizer Chiefs, who will host AmaZulu at Soccer City in the first leg of their semifinal tie on Sunday, have won 15 times, five more than their nearest rivals Orlando Pirates, whose 10 successes started with the first edition in 1972.
Pirates take on holders Mamelodi Sundowns in their semifinal first leg tie at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns have won it a paltry four times in comparison to their rivals, with last season’s narrow final penalty shootout success over Cape Town City marking their first top eight trophy since 2007.
There have been 15 different clubs who have won the trophy previously, but not AmaZulu.
Their quest at the weekend continues for the MTN8 trophy, although they did make the final in 1976.
Ominously, Chiefs then beat them 3-1 in the first leg of the final at KwaMashu and then two days later thrashed them 5-1 in the return at the Orlando Stadium with Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe grabbing a hattrick.
Chiefs, however, have not won the MTN8 since Tefu Mashamaite’s glancing header handed them a narrow 1-0 win over Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in 2014.
Their last final appearance was one year later when they lost to Ajax Cape Town.
Pirates’ 2-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2020 final ended a drought of six seasons without a trophy for the Buccaneers.
Chiefs go into this weekend’s semifinals having won nothing for the last seven seasons, since they took the league title in 2015.