Sundowns and Pirates coaches fire up for MTN8 final showdown!

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso and Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou have shared their expectations ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final, with both anticipating a highly competitive encounter between two of South Africa’s leading football sides.

Cardoso acknowledged the importance of the clash, particularly for South African football supporters, but stressed that Sundowns would not allow the occasion to distract them from their broader objectives for the season.

“We understand very well, obviously, the importance of such a game, what is at stake and what exactly it means, mostly in South Africa, for the fans,” Cardoso said.

Despite the attention surrounding the fixture, the Sundowns coach maintained that his team’s approach remained unchanged, with every match treated as an important step in their campaign.

He explained that the team had used the three-week period to prepare for its upcoming fixtures, including matches against Richards Bay and Wits, rather than concentrating exclusively on the Pirates encounter.

“For us, the next one is always the most important, and we take every match very seriously,” he said.

Cardoso also cautioned against placing too much emphasis on the outcome of one match, saying the teams’ overall performances would only be properly assessed at the end of the season.

He nevertheless expressed hope that Sundowns would emerge victorious.

“Let's hope the best team wins. Let's hope Mamelodi Sundowns is the best team,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ouaddou expects both sides to approach the final with confidence after their performances before the FIFA international break.

The Pirates coach said he anticipated an entertaining contest between two teams capable of competing at the highest level of South African football.

“I think the two teams will come with a good mindset. The two teams were doing well before the FIFA break, so hopefully we'll have a good game between two strong teams,” Ouaddou said.

He described the encounter as an opportunity for Pirates to demonstrate their quality and reinforce the club’s standing in the domestic game.

Ouaddou emphasised the importance of producing a performance that reflects positively on the Soweto giants, particularly in a high-profile final.

“I think it will be important for us to give a good image, to present a good face of Pirates,” he said.

With both coaches recognising the quality of their opponents, Saturday’s final promises a closely contested battle as Sundowns and Pirates look to add another major trophy to their respective honours lists.