The 2023 MTN8 final pits two of the giants of the local game against one another as Orlando Pirates meet Mamelodi Sundowns in the decider at Durban’s iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.

Pirates have generally been prolific in this competition down the years, but Sundowns less so and they will seek what has been an all too rare success for a club so used to lifting major silverware.

We look back at the teams and individuals who have written their names into the history books in the competition since it was first played 51 years ago in 1972.

MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUBS

This is the 49th instalment of the MTN8 competition in its various guises. It has been played every year bar 1977, and 1997-1999, when it briefly fell off the South African football calendar. Kaizer Chiefs are the most successful club with 15 victories from 21 final appearances (71 per cent conversion rate), though their previous win was in 2014 when a first half goal from Tefu Mashamaite gave them a 1-0 victory over Soweto rivals Pirates. Current champions Pirates are the next most successful side with 11 title triumphs from 17 finals (65 per cent conversion). Sundowns are third on the list of most successful clubs with four wins from 10 finals (40 per cent conversion). The only teams to lift the trophy more than once are Moroka Swallows, BidVest Wits and SuperSport United, who all have three wins.

MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES

Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala has won the most MTN8 competition titles as a coach with three. They came with Orlando Pirates (1978) and Mamelodi Sundowns (1988 & 1990), ironically the two finalists this year. He is one of only seven coaches to lift the trophy on multiple occasions. Jeff Butler managed it with Chiefs in 1989 and 1991, while Muhsin Ertugral did likewise in 2001 and 2008 over two spells at Naturena. But the first to win twice was Eddie Lewis with the AmaKhosi in 1974 and 1976, the second as co-coach with Eliakim Khumalo. Kaizer Motuang had the biggest gap between his two wins – nine years, as he lifted the trophy with Chiefs in 1973 and 1982. Gordan Igesund also did it twice with this year’s finalists, first with Pirates in 2000 and then Sundowns in 2007. The latest to add his name to the list is was Manqoba Mngqithi, who famously lifted the trophy in 2009 with Lamontville Golden Arrows as they trounced Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the final, and then Sundowns in 2021 as co-coach with Rhulani Mokwena. The latter will have the chance to add his name to the exclusive list this weekend having now taken sole charge of The Brazilians.

MTN8 FINAL HATTRICKS

There have been three MTN8 final hat-tricks in the competition’s history with players having written their names into folklore. Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe scored a treble for Chiefs against AmaZulu in 1976, Marks Maponyane for Chiefs against Rangers in 1987 and Phil Masinga for Jomo Cosmos against Chiefs in 1991, when despite his three goals he still finished on the losing side as the AmaKhosi won 4-3. So it has been 32 years since the last instance, could we see one this weekend?

RECORD SCORELINE

Lamontville Golden Arrows’ 6-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in the 2008 final of the MTN8 remains the biggest victory in a decider of a cup competition in South African football history, let alone the MTN8. Led by then 38-year-old Manqoba Mngqithi, a school teacher by trade, Golden Arrows ran rampant at the Orlando Stadium. Ajax had been left in disarray after coach Muhsin Ertugral left the club high and dry as he defected to Chiefs, with Dutchman Jan Pruijn in temporary charge while Foppe de Haan received his work permit.

The decision to play winger Franklin Cale at left-back cost the Urban Warriors dear as they were cut apart by Arrows, who led 2-0 at halftime and went to town in the second period.

Njabulo Manqana (two) and Richard Henyekane were on target, along with Thokozani Mshengu and Nhlanhla Zothwane. Dennis Ivanovs scored an own goal to compound Ajax's misery. To put that result into perspective, the next biggest victory in a one-off final in the competition was a 3-0 win for BidVest Wits over Sundowns in 2016.

GAUTENG DOMINATES

Clubs from Gauteng have won 41 of the previous 48 MTN8 titles and we are sure to add to that number this season with Pirates and Sundowns in the final. Only seven sides from outside the province have managed a victory, three from the Western Cape (Santos, Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs) and Cape Town City). There have also been one each from the Free State (Bloemfontein Celtic), KwaZulu-Natal (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Mpumalanga (Witbank Black Aces) and the North West (Platinum Stars).

EXTRA-TIME A POSSIBILITY

Eight previous finals have gone to extra-time, three involving Cape Town City (one win, two losses), all of which came in the last six seasons, two Kaizer Chiefs (both won), Orlando Pirates (one win, one loss), SuperSport United (one win, one loss) and Mamelodi Sundowns (one win). The other was between Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows in 2003 and was won 3-2 by Ezenkosi. In fact, six of the eight instances where the final went to an additional 30 minutes have come since 2008. The others were in 2001 and 2003.

DREADED PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

Seven finals have ended up going to penalties, with both Pirates and Sundowns having patchy records in that regard. Sundowns have been involved in three shoot-outs, losing to Chiefs in 2001 and 2008, but then beating Cape Town City in 2021. Pirates beat Moroka Swallows via spot-kicks in 2010 but lost three years later to Platinum Stars. The other three instances of shoot-outs all involved Cape Town City, as they lost to SuperSport United in 2017, returned to beat the same opponents in 2018, and then lost again to Sundowns two years ago. Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango remarkably saved five Cape Town City penalties in the shoot-out that followed the 2021 final.

RETAINING THE TROPHY

Chiefs and Pirates are the only sides to retain the MTN8 trophy, with The Buccaneers in with a shot of adding another instance this year. Chiefs managed it in 1981-1982 and 1991-1992. Pirates managed it in 2010-2011, though they did also win the trophy in 1996 and 2000, when there were no tournaments in between. So although not year-on-year, technically they did keep hold of it. They claimed the title win in 2022 and should they be victorious will keep the trophy for another year with back-to-back success.