Orlando Pirates will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. The match will be the fifth time in five seasons that the Buccaneers have reached the final, having won the title four times. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed confidence in his team's ability to win the title despite missing several key players due to their involvement with the national team.
Ouaddou revealed that over 10 key players are missing from his squad, including goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, Lebone Seema, Tshepang Moremi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Kamohelo Sebelebele, and Oswin Appollis. These players were part of the Bafana Bafana squad that played in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and a friendly match against Egypt on Sunday. Ouaddou acknowledged that this will make the match challenging but emphasized that his team has to work with the players available.
The coach highlighted that the missing players make a significant difference in the team's dynamics, but he remains hopeful that they will return to the team soon. He noted that the difference between the players who are with the national team and those who are not is not substantial. Ouaddou emphasized that his team cannot afford to make mistakes against a strong opponent like Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns, on the other hand, has 13 players with the Bafana Bafana squad, including some who got injured during the national team's camp. The injury status of some of these players is uncertain, with Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, and Bathusi Aubaas being doubtful for the final. Their availability will be determined closer to the match.
Ouaddou also mentioned that some of his injured players, including Evidence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha, are recovering well and might be available for the match. Additionally, defender Sihle Nduli, who was expected to be out for a long time, might return to the team sooner than expected.
The coach acknowledged that the match will be a challenging one, with both teams being among the top teams in South African football. He emphasized that the team that makes the fewest mistakes will have a better chance of winning the title. Ouaddou expressed his team's determination to win the MTN8 final, not just participate in it.
The MTN8 final promises to be an exciting match, with both teams having a strong chance of winning. The match will be a test of the depth and resilience of both teams, with several players missing due to national team commitments. The winner of the match will be crowned the champion of the MTN8 tournament.
Key points
- Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is confident in his team's ability to win the MTN8 final despite missing several key players.
- The match will be a challenging one, with both teams being among the top teams in South African football.
- The team that makes the fewest mistakes will have a better chance of winning the title.
