Dean Workman

MTN8 final: SuperSport’s experience vs CT City’s hunger

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2017 MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

SuperSport United and Cape Town City do duty in the 2018 MTN8 final in a clash that pits experience against hunger. Who will be the last team standing? DEAN WORKMAN explores.

On Saturday evening, Matsatsantsa a Pitori will do battle against the Citizens at the Moses Mabhida Stadium as history beckons for the victor.

READ: Top five MTN8 finals ahead of SuperSport, CT City showdown

Matsatsantsa have enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2018-19 campaign as they managed to beat both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to seal a spot in the MTN8 final, while also starting their Absa Premiership campaign well by winning four out of their opening six matches.

Benni McCarthy’s men, on the other hand, may have been impressive in the MTN8 as they knocked out defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the way to the final, but have endured an underwhelming start to their league campaign.

City have only managed a single victory in their opening six games, and although that victory was over SuperSport United, it was way back at the start of the season when SuperSport were still finding their feet.

However, despite the contrasting league form of these two sides, Saturday’s showpiece event truly is anybody’s game with a number of factors bound to influence the moods of the respective camps.

READ: Five reasons why SS United will win the MTN8

SuperSport’s cup pedigree

Kaitano Tembo’s team have become South Africa’s cup kings in recent years and will continue to add to this tag by competing in their 10th knockout final in the last six years.

This is more than any other Premier Soccer League side and two more than second on the list over that period, Orlando Pirates. Matsatsantsa, however, have not had it all their own way in these finals.

The Pretoria-based club have won five of those finals, while suffering four defeats since May 2012. However, a total of five trophies – possibly six if they win on Saturday – over that short period of time is truly impressive and something that a newly formed club like Cape Town City would undoubtedly be looking to emulate.

City’s short and impressive history

The club was only founded in 2016 as chairman John Comitis bought the defunct Mpumalanga Black Aces and relocated the club to Cape Town.

The move may have upset some at the time but the progression of the club since undergoing the dramatic change has been nothing short of remarkable.

The Citizens are now heading into their third cup final, after winning the Telkom Knockout in 2016 and losing last year’s MTN8 final, and for the third time, they will be up against Matsatsantsa.

City look to be a club on a mission and with Benni Mccarthy at the helm, they will undoubtedly be looking to emulate SuperSport’s model in overcoming the traditional powerhouses of South African football.

READ: Why CT City will win the MTN8 final

SuperSport vs City MTN8 final Act 2

The 2018 MTN8 final has been dubbed ‘Act 2’ by the PSL. Same teams, same competition, same stadium.

City would undoubtedly be looking to redeem themselves after last year’s final where they dominated large parts of the game after opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. SuperSport, however, absorbed a lot of pressure before grabbing a late equaliser, which sent the game to extra time.

McCarthy’s men again dominated the extra-time period but just couldn’t find the back of the net as the match went to penalties. The club from Pretoria then had Ronwen Williams to thank as the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper did what he does best: save penalties.

SuperSport were crowned champions, and the Citizens were visibly distraught after not getting over the line despite the good performance.

Now a year later, McCarthy will be looking to draw on the experience he has gained over the last season to help iron out the errors that may have cost them in last season’s final.

Saturday’s final promises to serve up some thrilling entertainment, with SuperSport looking to use their experience and know-how to lift yet another cup competition, while City will be looking to use their drive and hunger to start edging the younger club into the history books of South African football.