After Orlando Pirates won the MTN8 trophy by beating AmaZulu 1-0 in the final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, but they were history makers for good reasons and others for bad reasons.
Ben Motshwari, Vincent Pule and Thabang Monare won this cup for the third time in their careers. The trio previously won it with Bidvest Wits in the 2016/17 season and also in the 2020/21 season with Bucs.
Another player who won this cup for the third time in his career was Siyabonga Mpontshane, who won his first with Platinum Stars in the 2013/14 season, beating his current employers, Orlando Pirates. He also claimed his second with the Bucs two seasons ago, with all coming at the Durban venue.
Deon Hotto, Zakhele Lepasa, Kabelo Dlamini, Richard Ofori and captain Innocent Maela were winning this cup for the second time, having won it two seasons ago with Pirates.
It was also the second time Kermit Erasmus has won this cup, having clinched it with Mamelodi Sundowns last season. He has been on the losing finalist three times – in the 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons.
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AmaZulu
It was George Maluleka’s sixth MTN8 final in his career (more than anyone), but he has won it only twice. The loss to Pirates on Sunday means he has gone home with a wooden spoon four times, including the 6-0 crushing at the hands of Golden Arrows in the 2009/10 season.
Lehlohonolo Majoro is another player who has been unlucky in this cup. It was Majoro’s fourth final in the MTN8, but he has never been on the side to have won it. Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City are the other clubs he has played for and has lost in all of them.
For Usuthu captain, Makhehleni Makhaula, this was his second MTN8 final, but he has lost both of them, with the other coming against SuperSport United when he was at Highlands Park in the 2019/20 season.
Orlando Pirates
The Soweto giants were winning this cup for the fourth time, more than any other side under the current guise. They previously claimed this trophy in the 2010/11, 2011/12, 2020/21 seasons.
Historically, Pirates will keep this trophy forever after MTN and PSL decided that before the game that if they win it, they will keep it since they have won it a record fourth time, unlike one season for the previous winners. MTN8 will have a newly designed trophy next season.
Moses Mabhida Stadium:
The venue that hosted the 2010 World Cup semi final, has now hosted the MTN8 final for the third time on the trot and eight times overall.
The first MTN8 final at the venue was in the 2010/11 season, then 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons. It then hosted in 2017/18, 2018/19 seasons and in the last three seasons, making it the venue which has the most.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
