The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will be a familiar setting for Saturday’s MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC as it hosts the decider in the top eight competition for the 10th time since 2010.
Generally, a final venue is chosen as a neutral venue and this has largely been the case, except for 2022 when Pirates defeated AmaZulu at their home ground in the decider, though predictably Buccaneers fans outnumbered Usuthu considerably.
For Pirates it is the third year in a row they contest the MTN8 decider at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the seventh time in all.
Coming up on SuperSport this Saturday, the #MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch 🤩 pic.twitter.com/4SonNBl4OH
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 30, 2024
Their previous six deciders in this competition have seen them take the trophy four times, beating Moroka Swallows on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2010, edging Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in 2020 and claiming victories over AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns (via penalties) in the last two years.
There have been two defeats along the way though. They lost on spot-kicks to Platinum Stars in 2013 in a shock result, and 1-0 to old foes Kaizer Chiefs the following year.
The team with the next highest number of MTN8 final appearances at the venue are Cape Town City, who beat SuperSport United on penalties in 2018, but lost via spot-kicks to the same side the year before and to Sundowns in 2017.
Stellenbosch have not played an MTN8 final before, but do have fond memories of the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
It was at this venue last December that they defeated TS Galaxy on penalties to lift the Carling Knockout title.
MTN8 FINALS AT THE MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM
2010 – ORLANDO PIRATES 1-1 MOROKA SWALLOWS
Pirates won 4-2 on penalties at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium after a 1-1 draw. Daine Klate put Pirates ahead but Morgan Shivambu equalised for The Birds.
2013 – ORLANDO PIRATES 1-1 PLATINUM STARS
Platinum Stars edged Pirates on penalties with the Buccaneers missing three kicks in a row in the shootout, having come from behind to win with a late Thabo Matlaba goal. Robert Ng’ambi put Dikwena ahead.
2014 – KAIZER CHIEFS 1-0 ORLANDO PIRATES
A glancing header from defender Tefu Mashamaite proved decisive as Chiefs edged arch-rivals Pirates in the final. It was revenge for their final loss three years prior and the last time we had a Soweto Derby decider.
2017 – SUPERSPORT UNITED 1-1 CAPE TOWN CITY
Just weeks into his new coaching career, Benni McCarthy got Cape Town City into the final but SuperSport won 4-2 on penalties after extra time. Sibusiso Masina put City in front but Thabo Mnyamane equalised for Eric Tinkler’s team.
2018 - SUPERSPORT UNITED 0-0 CAPE TOWN CITY
City and SuperSport contested the final for a second successive year and again had to be separated by penalties but this time it was the Capetonians who won 4-1 on spot-kicks.
2020 – BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC 1-2 ORLANDO PIRATES
Bloemfontein Celtic led with a goal from Sphelele Luthuli after only three minutes but Pirates fought back with Deon Hotto equalising and Thembinkosi Lorch’s penalty proving the winner.
2021 – CAPE TOWN CITY 1-1 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Sundowns won the MTN8 trophy for the first time but needed penalties. Thapelo Morena put The Brazilians ahead but Fagrie Lakay equalised for City. Goalkeeper Denis Onyango saved five penalties in the shoot-out for Sundowns.
2022 – ORLANDO PIRATES 1-0 AMAZULU
A superb freekick from Monnapule Saleng was the difference as Pirates edged AmaZulu, who were competing in a cup final for the first time in 30 years.
2023 – ORLANDO PIRATES 0-0 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
A goalless draw in the decider but Pirates claimed a third MTN8 trophy win in three years as they triumphed 3-1 on penalties.