Mamelodi Sundowns are set to play defending champions Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final on a yet-to-be-identified date.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions made it to the last four by beating Richards Bay 4-0, while Orlando Pirates claimed a 2-0 victory over Polokwane City in the quarter-final. Stelelnbosch and Sekhukhune United are the other teams that made the semis after victories against their respective opponents.
Kaizer Chiefs missed MTN8 for the second time in a row as they finished 10th on the Premier Soccer League table in the 2024/25 season. The Sea Robbers legend, Benedict Tso Vilakazi now believes Amakhosi have been replaced by Masandawana in what he feels is a new derby.
‘Now it’s all about who wants it more'
“It’s a tough one. This fixture has evolved into a derby. Sundowns are now equal in stature to Kaizer Chiefs; they have effectively replaced Chiefs in the derby. We can’t discuss you if you are not winning. We’re talking about teams that know how to win—like Pirates and Sundowns. This is the biggest game now, football-wise,” Vilakazi told Kick-Off.
“I would have preferred them to meet in the final, but since it’s happening in the semifinals, it’s going to be a challenge to beat them twice—in the first leg and the second leg. Now it’s all about who wants it more. We are fortunate that there is no more loadshedding in our country, so we will be able to watch all the games live.
“Pirates have a history of winning this cup; they've won it three times in a row already, so they have an edge over Sundowns. Meanwhile, Sundowns often struggle in the semifinals,” he concluded.
