Ouaddou aims to join list of repeat MTN8 winning coaches

There have been 15 different coaches to have led their teams to glory in the MTN8 since 2008, and until recent no tactician had managed the feat twice before Spaniard Jose Riveiro re-wrote the history books.

Manqoba Mngqithi was the first to bag a double as he led Lamontville Golden Arrows to a sensational 6-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in the 2009 final, and then 12 years later, along with co-coach Rulani Mokwena, took Mamelodi Sundowns to a shoot-out win over Cape Town City.

But his unique feat has since been beaten by Riveiro, who led Orlando Pirates to a hat-trick of wins between 2022 and 2024, never losing a tie in the top eight competition before he departed for a short stay at Al Ahly in Egypt.

Some of the leading names in South African football have taken teams to the title, the likes of Muhsin Ertugral (Kaizer Chiefs, 2008), Ruud Krol (Orlando Pirates, 2010), Stuart Baxter (Kaizer Chiefs, 2014), Roger de Sa (Ajax Cape Town, 2015), Gavin Hunt (BidVest Wits, 2016), Eric Tinkler (SuperSport United, 2017) and Benni McCarthy (Cape Town City, 2018).

Abdeslam Ouaddou was the latest when he helped Pirates to a fourth successive win in 2025, carrying on from where Riveiro left off, and has them in the final again this season as they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in Durban on Saturday.

It means all seven of Pirates’ wins in the competition since 2008 have come via foreign coaches.

But there have also been some other coaches who have made their name in the competition. Allan Freese took Platinum Stars to the title in 2013 and the year before Zeca Marques was a winner with Moroka Swallows.

MTN8 WINNING COACHES SINCE 2008

2008 – Muhsin Ertugral (Kaizer Chiefs)

2009 – Manqoba Mngqithi (Lamontville Golden Arrows)

2010 – Ruud Krol (Orlando Pirates)

2011 – Julio Cesar Leal (Orlando Pirates)

2012 – Zeca Marques (Moroka Swallows)

2013 – Allan Freese (Platinum Stars)

2014 – Stuart Baxter (Kaizer Chiefs)

2015 – Roger de Sa (Ajax Cape Town)

2016 – Gavin Hunt (BidVest Wits)

2017 – Eric Tinkler (SuperSport United)

2018 – Benni McCarthy (Cape Town City)