Orlando Pirates begin MTN8 title defence against Durban City

The Premier Soccer League has confirmed the schedule for this weekend’s MTN8 quarter-finals, with defending champions Orlando Pirates beginning their bid for a fifth successive title against Durban City.

The eight highest-placed teams from last season’s Betway Premiership will compete for the MTN8 trophy, with all four quarter-finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Pirates will open the knockout stage when they face last season’s Nedbank Cup winners at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. The match is scheduled to begin at 15:00 and is expected to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the opening round.

Pirates have dominated the competition in recent seasons, winning the trophy four years in succession. Their latest triumph leaves them one title short of matching the record 15 MTN8 victories held by Kaizer Chiefs.

Chiefs’ most recent success in the competition came in 2014. They remain the outright record holders, while Pirates are now within one win of drawing level with them in the all-time honours list.

Mamelodi Sundowns were the last club other than Pirates to lift the trophy, doing so in 2021. However, Sundowns have won the MTN8 four times overall, meaning they remain some way behind both Chiefs and Pirates in the competition’s historical standings.

Sundowns will begin their own domestic campaign on Saturday evening after their opening Betway Premiership fixture was postponed. They host Polokwane City at Lucas Moripe Stadium, with kick-off set for 18:00.

The quarter-final programme continues on Sunday afternoon, when AmaZulu welcome Sekhukhune United to Chatsworth Stadium. That match will start at 15:00.

The final tie of the weekend sees Chiefs take on Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium. The record champions’ meeting with Golden Arrows is scheduled for 18:00 on Sunday.

The confirmed MTN8 quarter-final fixtures are:

– Orlando Pirates v Durban City Orlando Amstel Arena, Saturday, 15:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns v Polokwane City Lucas Moripe Stadium, Saturday, 18:00 – AmaZulu v Sekhukhune United Chatsworth Stadium, Sunday, 15:00 – Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows FNB Stadium, Sunday, 18:00

The MTN8 brings together the top eight teams from the previous Betway Premiership season, with the four winners progressing to the semi-finals. This year’s competition therefore begins with Pirates seeking to extend their remarkable run, while Chiefs will aim to move closer to reclaiming the trophy they last won in 2014.

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