Matthews sets sights on MTN8 final after Bafana Bafana breakthrough

Tashreeq Matthews is aiming to maintain his recent momentum when Mamelodi Sundowns face defending champions Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.

The winger made his long-awaited Bafana Bafana debut during the most recent FIFA international break, starting in the 1-0 victory over Egypt in Cairo. After returning to club football, Matthews says he is determined to continue the form he showed before joining up with the national team.

“I’m just very grateful that I finally got that opportunity… I just need to continue where I left off, before I went to Bafana and coming back, I just want to continue where I left off,” he said.

Matthews also believes the final is significant because of the number of locally based players involved. The strength of South African-based footballers was also reflected in the make-up of the national squad during the international break.

“I think it’s going to be a very good final, like you said, it’s a lot of locally based players, and seeing what we achieved it’s fantastic, I’m sure not many international nations with local based players in Africa are mostly used.”

Matthews expects a tightly contested final

While he anticipates a high-quality and intense contest, Matthews insists the occasion will not change Mamelodi Sundowns’ preparations.

“It’s going to be a good final, a high level of football and I’m very excited to play, it won’t change the way we train, we just need to focus on what we do.

“They are the defending champions and we are in the final together, these games are small details, anything can happen, so it’s about sticking to the way we train and just more motivation as well, because we have reached the final.

“So the only thing to do now is to win but it will be a difficult game.”

Matthews joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Swedish club IK Sirius in January 2024 and has been a regular presence ever since.

He has scored 23 goals and provided 18 assists in 116 games for the club. During that period, Matthews has also won two league titles, the CAF Champions League and the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup.

Now, with his first Bafana Bafana appearance secured and the MTN8 final approaching, he will look to carry that progress into the meeting with Orlando Pirates.