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Goal takes a look at the thoughts that dominate the minds of fans as the new campaign approaches.
The new 2020/21 season kicks off this weekend with MTN8’s quarterfinal matches scheduled to take place in South Africa.
Eight clubs from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will face off once again with the first silver piece of the campaign firmly in their sights.
These are the teams that finished in the top eight in the PSL rankings last season and qualified for the lucrative MTN8 competition.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will see a delayed start of the new campaign after the late end of the previous period in a bio-bubble in Gauteng.
However, the new season will be played at the local club headquarters, after the government opened interprovincial trips, but fans are not yet allowed into the stadiums.
What is at stake
While the runner-up and six other clubs get the same participation quota of R800,000, which is why the tournament has become known as ‘Wafa Wafa’, the winner takes it all.
SuperSport United is the defending champion and will begin their title defense against tournament rookie Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), who will be at home in Thohoyandou on Saturday afternoon.
The Orlando Pirates will then host their hoodoo Cape Town City team in Soweto on Saturday night, while the 15-record MTN8 champions Kaizer Chiefs host Maritzburg United in Nasrec, Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.
Reigning PSL champion Mamelodi Sundowns will face Bloemfontein Celtic in Tshwane on Sunday afternoon in a replay of last month’s Nedbank Cup final.
These winning teams are expected to advance to the two-match semi-finals where the overall winners will advance to the final.
Bogey equipment
The Chiefs had a frustrating record against Maritzburg last season, failing to defeat coach Eric Tinkler’s team in their three meetings in all competitions.
Maritzburg secured two victories over Amakhosi, including the Telkom Knockout semi-final, while the other game ended in a draw with Daylon Claalsen missing a penalty that could have given Tinkler’s team victory.
On the other hand, Cape Town has proven to be the Pirates’ hoodoo team and is enjoying a six-game unbeaten streak against the Buccaneers.
The Citizens have recorded two wins and four draws in their last six meetings with Bucs, including a 1-0 win in their most recent clash, which was a league game two months ago.
Furthermore, City have only lost once to the Pirates in all competitions since the club’s inception in 2016 and the two teams have met nine times in the last four years.
New coaches and players
Mamelodi Sundowns has been very active in the transfer market, bringing in exciting new players such as Kermit Erasmus, Aubrey Modiba and Peter Shalulile, making them one of the favorites to win the MTN8.
However, the sudden departure of coach Pitso Mosimane has caused the club to appoint Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as coaches and they will be assisted by Steve Komphela.
The decision to bring in an experienced coach like Komphela to work with Mngqithi and Mokwena has surprised many and it will be interesting to see how the trio will work together.
Sundowns’ rivals in Gauteng, the Chiefs, are prohibited from signing and registering players, but are awaiting a result from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following their transfer ban appeal hearing.
Amakhosi parted ways with Ernst Middendorp last month after he failed to win the PSL title and the club’s decision to replace the German tactician with Gavin Hunt has been hailed as a masterstroke.
Hunt is one of the most successful coaches in the PSL era and hopes to lead Amakhosi to an MTN8 title win to ease the pressure on himself and also end the club’s five-trophy drought.
Do pirates have an advantage?
However, the Pirates’ stability gives them an edge over their rivals, as the club has kept its faith in Josef Zinnbauer, who revived the team after taking command in December 2019.
The German strategist guided the Buccaneers to third place in the league and they finally seemed to have found the winning formula as the team ended the recent season on a three-game winning streak.
The best Pirates players from last season, Wayne Sandilands, Happy Jele and Frank Mhango, remain part of the team as the Soweto giants seek to end their six-year trophy drought.
The club’s shrewd transfer business has enhanced Zinnbauer’s roster with Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabang Monare, Deon Hotto and Terrence Dzvukamanja arriving at the Houghton giants as new signings.
Former Bidvest Wits players have brought the necessary expertise in key areas such as defense and offense, and their winning mentality could help propel the Soweto giants to a win at MTN8.
