Pirates’ Riveiro expects a relentless threat from Stellies in MTN8 final

Orlando Pirates manager Jose Riveiro says he is expecting a relentless threat from Stellenbosch FC when the teams meet in the final of the MTN8.

The match will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 5 October 2024, with kick-off at 6pm CAT.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Orlando Pirates, the two-time reigning champions of the MTN8 (having won the title in 2022 and 2023, as part of 12 triumphs in the competition overall), earned their place in the final by defeating SuperSport United 3-1 in the quarterfinal, and then overcoming Cape Town City 3-1 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinal.

Stellenbosch FC secured a place in their first MTN8 final thanks to a 3-1 win over TS Galaxy in the quarterfinal, followed by an impressive 2-0 aggregate triumph over reigning league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their two-legged semifinal.

CURRENT FORM

Orlando Pirates are unbeaten this season across all competitions (played 10, won 8, drawn 2) and come into the MTN8 final on the back of six successive wins. They most recently defeated Richards Bay 1-0 away from home this past Sunday in a Betway Premiership match played at the King Zwelithini Stadium.

Stellenbosch FC have lost just once so far this season across all competitions (played 10, won 7, drawn 2, lost 1), though they have managed just one victory from their last four outings. They were also in league action this past Sunday, being held to a 1-1 draw at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium by hosts Polokwane City.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Orlando Pirates manager Jose Riveiro:

“We have to accept Stellenbosch the way they are. We respect them big time. We faced Stellenbosch four times last season, in the MTN8 semifinal and in our two games in the league. We beat them once (in the MTN8) it took us 94 minutes in Athlone to beat them against 10 players. We didn’t get the results in any of the other games.

“So, we know very well what it means to play Stellenbosch and we have to accept that it’s going to be a game where we are going to be permanently under threat because there are going to be transitions. It doesn’t matter how good we are or how we prepare ourselves for that situation, we know what is coming.”

Stellenbosch FC manager Steve Barker:

“Last year [season] we had some good encounters with Pirates. We also played them in the semifinals of this tournament. Unfortunately, we lost on away goals and in the league we beat them.

“So they're a really good team and I think they’ve gotten even better, so it will be a tough ask when the team is going for a treble [three MTN8 titles in a row]. The coach and the team seem to be doing very well in cup competitions so I would see them seeing themselves as cup specialists right now.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando Pirates: Monnapule Saleng

Pirates’ mercurial attacker Monnapule Saleng missed their league win over Richards Bay this past weekend due to injury, but it is hoped that he will be passed fit to play in the MTN8 final. The 26-year-old has scored in each of his last three matches and also found the net against SuperSport in the quarterfinals of this edition of the MTN8. He famously scored the only goal of the 2022 MTN8 final in the Buccaneers’ win over AmaZulu FC, and will be hoping for a similar result this year.

Stellenbosch FC: Lehlohonolo Mojela

Since his move to Stellenbosch FC from TS Galaxy in the off-season, Lehlohonolo Majoela has scored five goals – including a beauty in their 1-1 draw with Polokwane City this past weekend. The 28-year-old attacker is a “formidable player” according to manager Steve Barker, who added: “It is nice that he is scoring and playing with a lot of confidence. You know he is a handful for any team. He has a lot of energy, a lot of movement and pressing and adding goals.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In head-to-head stats, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC have met in three previous cup matches, with the Soweto side holding a 2-1 advantage in terms of wins (including an away-goals triumph in their two-legged MTN8 semifinal last season).

Overall, the teams have clashed in 13 matches across all competitions since Stellies’ promotion to the top flight in 2019: the Buccaneers have five wins compared to the Cape side’s four, with four games ending in draws.

Stellies completed a league ‘double’ over Pirates last season, winning 1-0 in the Cape in August 2023 and 3-2 in the return game in Soweto in December 2023.

HEAD-TO-HEAD (since 2019/20)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2019/20 Telkom KO, last 16 Pirates 1-0 Stellenbosch Lorch

2022/23 MTN8 semi, 1st leg Stellenbosch 1-2 Pirates Toure; Lepasa, Hotto

2022/23 MTN8 semi, 2nd leg Pirates 0-1 Stellenbosch Lepasa (og)

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 3 2 0 1 3 2

Stellenbosch 3 1 0 2 2 3

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers