Orlando Pirates midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula has expressed confidence in his team's chances of winning the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. The 36-year-old veteran player believes the team's hard work and the guidance of senior players will lead them to their fifth consecutive MTN8 trophy. Makhaula, a proven winner of multiple domestic trophies, said the team's newcomers have been made to understand the club's winning mentality.
Makhaula, who has not played since the start of the season, is one of the leaders in the dressing room tasked with ensuring younger players rise to the occasion. He praised the team's management for recruiting the right players and creating a winning mentality. The team's coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, is relying on senior players like Makhaula, goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, and defenders Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki to guide inexperienced players.
The Orlando Pirates team has undergone significant changes since winning the competition last season. Makhaula said the newcomers are hungry for success and have been made to understand the club's slogan of winning everything. He attributed the team's success to the blend of experienced and young players, which he believes will help them compete on all fronts.
Pirates' ambitions this season extend beyond the MTN8. Coach Ouaddou and his men aim to replicate last season's success, where they won a first treble and first Betway Premiership title since 2011/12. Makhaula said the team has assembled a big squad to be competitive, which will help them manage their busy schedule.
Makhaula revealed he was about to retire from professional football after Pirates won the league last season but was persuaded by chairman Irvin Khoza to continue for another season. He expressed excitement about going to another final with a different group of players and hoped they would win it.
For Pirates to win, they must overcome a Sundowns team on a high after winning the Fifa Intercontinental Cup by beating Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli last month. Sundowns' coach, Miguel Cardoso, has proven campaigners in his squad, including international stars like Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Morena, and Grant Kekana.
The MTN8 final promises to be a high-stakes blockbuster, with both teams eager to claim the trophy. While Ouaddou relies on many younger players, Cardoso's Sundowns squad boasts a mix of experience and youth. The availability of Sundowns players Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, and Bathusi Aubaas, who received knocks while on national duty, remains uncertain.
Key points
- Makhaula confident of Pirates' MTN8 win against Sundowns
- Pirates team has transformed since last season's MTN8 win
- Sundowns on a high after winning Fifa Intercontinental Cup
