Mamelodi Sundowns striker Rodney Ramagalela has backed the upcoming MTN8 final as the perfect showdown with arch-rivals Orlando Pirates. The forward believes the clash is exactly what South African football fans have been waiting for.
Ramagalela said the occasion is fitting for the country's two best teams. "This is what supporters and football people want: Sundowns facing Pirates right now," he stated. "They are the two best teams in the country. For me, I wouldn’t want it any other way."
The final represents a major opportunity for Mamelodi Sundowns to end a significant drought. The club endured its first trophyless domestic season since 2012/13 last term, while Orlando Pirates completed a domestic treble. Victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday 10 October would also halt Pirates' bid for a fifth consecutive MTN8 title. Sundowns enter the contest in strong league form, sitting top of the Premier Soccer League with 20 points from eight games and on a three-match winning run.
The sold-out final in Durban follows an extended international break where several Sundowns players featured for Bafana Bafana. The clubs last met in this competition in 2023, a goalless final decided by penalties in Pirates' favour. Ramagalela noted that preparation will be key, saying the challenge ultimately falls to the coaches and which players are ready on the day. The team's recent 4-1 victory over Richards Bay, with goals from Tashreeq Matthews and a Iqraam Rayners brace, shows their attacking threat ahead of the decider. Check the team's fixtures for the schedule after the final.
Sundowns will face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday 10 October 2026.
The report in full is at Cape Times
