Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus says they deserve to win the MTN8 trophy because they showed their hunger more than Mamelodi Sundowns and that was the difference.
In what was a powerful wind and eventful game in Durban in the Wafa Wafa Cup final, Pirates beat Sundowns on the penalty shootouts where Sipho Chaine saved three penalties after 120 minutes of chess by slinging out at each other.
Erasmus, who left Sundowns on the last day of the transfer window last term, was a surprise inclusion from the start as he has seen a few game-time this season.
But coach Jose Riveiro knew what he was going to get from him as he has experience, especially in this competition, having played in six finals and five at the Durban iconic venue.
The former Sundowns striker almost came up with an assist, picking up Monnapule Saleng with a cutback but the PSL Players’ Player of the Season blasted it in the side netting in the last minute of Abongile Tom’s additional time in the second half.
Earlier on in the first half, Ronwen Williams almost fumbled a drop ball of Erasmus, waiting for the former Cape Town City strike to commit before gathering the ball, but it got stuck to the former SuperSport United goalie inside box and Tom called it for free kick inside the penalty box in favour Pirates.
“I thought the hunger to want it more,” said Erasmus after the game.
“You watched how we started the game. I think you have to look at the stats in terms of possession, yes, they have got a few better chances than ours.
“But in terms of how we pressed, we stuck to the plan, we gave everything without the ball especially. And we harassed when we needed to and we covered for one another when we needed to.
“I think the selflessness of one another as a team – to work tirelessly – covering one another, pressing one another, worked to our advantage. It showed that during the game.
“Yes, we weren’t fluid in our passage of play, but in moments we had good attacking ways, especially on the opposite side of the team.
“I think with a little bit of composure we could have brought better chances but finals are always a different ball game. Like I said, it is who wants it more and I think we showed that.”
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Erasmus was one the scorers when Pirates crushed Sundowns 3-0 in the MTN8 semi-final second leg last season before the Soweto giants went all the way to win the Wafa Wafa Cup when they beat AmaZulu in November last year also at the Durban venue.
