Junior Khanye backs Orlando Pirates to retain MTN8 title

iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye has tipped defending champions Orlando Pirates to win the MTN8 for a fifth successive season, predicting a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Durban City on Saturday.

The Buccaneers begin their title defence against the KwaZulu-Natal side at the Amstel Arena at 15:00, with Khanye basing his forecast on Pirates’ strong start to the 2026/27 campaign and the improvements they have made to their squad.

“Pirates are the favourites for me to lift the trophy,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.

“They didn’t change a lot in their team. They lost their star player Rele [Relebohile Mofokeng] and I saw them beef up.

“I know [Mamelodi] Sundowns might be a threat to everyone, even in CAF but there’s the matter of momentum. Pirates have started the season very well and I haven’t seen Sundowns. So for me I think Pirates will defend the MTN8 title, it’s straight forward for me.

Khanye expects Durban City to adopt an attacking approach rather than sit deep, arguing that the side will have little to lose in a cup quarter-final.

“This is not the last game of the season in the league or a Cup final they [City] have got nothing to lose, they’ll want to play an open game. I don’t think they’ll play a low-block.

“They played that way towards the end of last season because they had this mind-set that they’d disturb Orlando Pirates because they had nothing to lose having secured a top 8 spot.

“But pound for pound they can’t match Orlando Pirates. Their players aren’t the same and they are coming up against a team that has won a treble, it’s going to be so difficult. Pirates will win this game 2-0.”

Pirates are aiming to claim a fifth consecutive Wafa Wafa trophy, while Khanye believes their treble-winning squad gives them a significant advantage over Durban City.

The analyst also offered a less favourable assessment of Kaizer Chiefs, who return to the MTN8 for the first time in three years. Amakhosi face Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium on Sunday at 18:00, but Khanye predicts they will exit the competition in the opening round.

“If you look at how Chiefs won last week [in the league] it was because of the mistakes of Kruger [United],” added Khanye.

“For me Chiefs will be eliminated from the tournament with possibility of extra-time. There won’t be a heavy score and this will be a real test for Chiefs.

“The difference will be slim but Arrows will win this game.”

Khanye’s predictions cover both of the MTN8 fixtures involving the two most prominent Soweto clubs. While he expects Orlando Pirates to progress and ultimately retain the trophy, he believes Kaizer Chiefs will be eliminated by Golden Arrows in a closely contested match that could require extra-time.

His full MTN8 predictions are available on the official iDiski TV YouTube channel.