Deon Hotto chasing sixth MTN8 final appearance for Orlando Pirates

Deon Hotto will return to club duty with Orlando Pirates for Saturday’s MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns, having been an ever-present figure in the club’s five previous victories in the competition.

The Namibian winger played every minute of each of those finals after joining Pirates, making him the only member of the current squad to have achieved that record.

His first MTN8 final came in 2020, when he completed the full 90 minutes against Bloemfontein Celtic as Orlando Pirates ended a nine-year wait to win the trophy.

Hotto again played the entire match two years later against AmaZulu before celebrating on the podium with his team-mates.

In the 2023 final against Mamelodi Sundowns, the game went beyond normal time and Hotto completed 120 minutes. He then converted Orlando Pirates’ first penalty in the shootout.

The pattern continued in 2024, when the Bucs produced a late performance against Stellenbosch to secure another MTN8 triumph.

Last year, the Orlando Pirates number seven once more covered the left flank for the full 120 minutes against Stellenbosch, underlining his importance in the club’s success in the competition.

Saturday’s meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium will give Hotto a sixth opportunity to appear in the MTN8 final in the colours of Orlando Pirates.

The occasion comes shortly after a difficult international outing for the veteran, whose humiliating defeat last Saturday is expected to be put aside as he returns to his club.

Hotto, who turns 36 at the end of October, has established himself as one of the most reliable performers in Orlando Pirates’ recent MTN8 campaigns. His relentless work on the left side has made him a prominent presence whenever the final stage of the competition arrives.

Since joining from BidVest Wits six years ago, he has featured in 258 of Orlando Pirates’ 283 matches.

That level of involvement has been reflected in his record in the MTN8, where he has not missed a minute of any of the five finals won by the club during his time in the squad.

His experience will again be called upon when Orlando Pirates face Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with Hotto seeking to extend both his personal run and the club’s record in the competition.