Pirates hold the edge over Sundowns in MTN8 final, says Mere

2026 MTN8 ambassador Vuyo Mere believes Orlando Pirates’ greater experience in the competition gives them the advantage over Mamelodi Sundowns in next month’s Wafa Wafa final.

Pirates will be seeking a fifth consecutive MTN8 title when the sides meet, while Sundowns are aiming to win the trophy for the first time since 2021.

Mere, a former Mamelodi Sundowns defender, also pointed to Orlando Pirates’ momentum after their treble-winning campaign last season as another factor in the final.

“I would say Orlando Pirates because of the experience in this tournament and the momentum that they took from last season,” Mere told iDiski Times journalist Lethabo Kganyago.

The former Sundowns player added that Orlando Pirates’ status as Betway Premiership champions further strengthened their position ahead of the match.

“Obviously, we’re talking about the Betway Premiership champions,” Mere said.

By contrast, he suggested Sundowns would need to recover from a prolonged wait for domestic silverware. He said the club had gone for the past four seasons without winning a domestic cup trophy, describing that as a concern for the Brazilians.

“Mamelodi Sundowns are still having to dust themselves off; I think, it’s the past four seasons without winning any domestic [cup] trophy, which is a worrying factor,” he said.

Mere believes the drought could remain a mental burden for Sundowns as they attempt to reclaim a major domestic trophy.

“I think it’s still lingering in their minds to say that we haven’t won anything domestically in four seasons, so now we need to improve and do better domestically,” he said.

He also acknowledged that some people may feel Sundowns have placed particular emphasis on continental and global competitions, including the CAF Champions League and the Club World Cup.

“Now a lot of people would think that Mamelodi Sundowns focuses on the CAF Champions League and the Club World Cup,” Mere said.

However, he believes the MTN8 final presents Sundowns with an opportunity to restore their standing with their supporters by ending their wait for the trophy.

“Now they need to also bring the bragging rights back to their supporters,” he said.

“So, I think this is a good start for them in the MTN8, to put that trophy that has been eluding them for the longest time in their cabinet.”