Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium will host its 17th domestic cup finals at the 2010 World Cup semi-final venue when Orlando Pirates collide with Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday (18:00).
It means the venue continues to be the favourite for cup finals as it has hosted more since it was reopened after the FIFA World Cup on home soil.
iDiski Times bring you fun facts:
Since it was reopened for domestic use, it has never missed out on hosting a cup final in 13 years.
The MTN8 final on Saturday will be the ninth since it hosted its first in the 2010/11 season when Pirates lifted the trophy when they beat Moroka Swallows on penalty shootouts.
This year’s final will be the fourth time it has hosted consecutively, with Pirates having appeared the most times (three).
The venue also hosted its first Telkom Knockout when Pirates beat Bidvest Wits in the 2011/12. Sundowns followed but they controversially lost to Clinton Larsen’s Bloemfontein Celtic in the following season, leading to Johan Neeksens to be sacked.
Sundowns, in the 2015/16 season, were not going to be denied when they came back to Durban for the second time, beating Kaizer Chiefs 3-1.
It was a season that will go down as the greatest in the history books of the Tshwane giants, as they enjoyed unparalleled success, going all the way to win Africa’s holy grail – the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns are also the last club to lift the TKO there, beating Maritzburg United in the 2019/20 season.
While Sundowns have hoisted the TKO twice at the venue, they have not reached the Nedbank Cup finals in the coastal city in its venue’s four.
Between Pirates and Sundowns, who has appeared the most finals at the World Cup venue in Durban?
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Pirates have appeared in eight finals at the Moses Mabhida Stadium before, winning five and losing the others.
Sundowns has just appeared in four finals at the venue and they have won three of those, including their first MTN8 in the 2021/22 season and first top eight trophy in 14 years, beating Cape Town City in a long drawn penalty shootouts .
MTN8 finals:
2010/11, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22/, 2022/23, 2013/24 (Pirates appeared in five and won three time and Sundowns appeared once and won)
TKO finals:
2011/12, 2012/13, 2015/16, 2019/20. (Pirates appeared once and won once and Sundowns appeared in three and won two)
Nedbank Cup finals:
2012/13, 2013/14, 2016/17, 2018/19: (Pirates appeared in two finals and won once and Sundowns appeared to none)
Interestingly, these two sides will meet in their first final since 2007/08 when Sundowns won the SAA Supa 8 1-0 through Brent Carelse’s goal. The final was hosted at Kings Park Stadium which is across the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
