Orlando Pirates have been crowned the MTN8 champions for the record fourth time after beating AmaZulu 1-0 in front of the 52248 fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Monnapule Saleng’s goal in the first half was enough to see the Buccaneers becoming the most successful club in the competition (fourth trophies) since the telecommunication took over in 2008. It means they will keep this competition forever after the PSL and MTN decided prior if they won as the record time winners.
As for next season, MTN8 said they will have a brand new trophy and that is partly why Pirates will keep it forever. But had AmaZulu won it, they were going to keep it for one season, which is the norm.
Pirates add this cup having claimed it in the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2020/21 seasons.
On the other hand, AmaZulu were seeking their first trophy in the PSL and also in 30 years, with their last time coming in 1992.
However, Pirates made the worst possible start in this game as Nkosinathi Sibisi was taken off in the first minutes after he came together with Gabadinho Mhango, with the former Golden Arrows defender signalling to his bench to be taken off.
He was replaced by Paseka Mako. It was already a Pirates side that had injury woes, as they were without captain Innocent Maela and Goodman Mosele.
These two were taken off early in the Soweto Derby loss to Kaizer Chiefs last weekend.
But Pirates showed better impetus as Saleng sent a warning, heading in the 17th minute.
However, Saleng, who crushed Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi final with two goals, curled a brilliant free kick to beat Mothwa in the 25th minute, in what was an acute angle.
Soon after, Usuthu were not spared from their own injury as Ramahlwe Mphahlele was taken off in the 32nd minute with what looked like a foot injury and replaced by Mbongeni Gumede.
As the game become a stop start, Pirates, having scored first, controlled things and the goal looked to have done a world of good for them.
George Maluleka, who assisted when Kaizer Chiefs beat Pirates in the final in the 2014/15 season at the same venue, saw his dipping free kick finally test Ofori in goals just before half time.
Usuthu threw another warning to Pirates in the 55th minute, but Lehlohonolo Majoro was unlucky to see his header come off the crossbar. The former Pirates striker was left crushing his face as Usuthu came close to score.
As the game was watched by over 50000 fans, it lacked the spark of the final. But Pirates will be happy to go home with a trophy.
This means Jose Riveiro becomes the first Pirates coach to win this cup in his first season since Julio Leal did so in his first season in the 2011/12 season.
