MTN8 Quarter-finals – Preview

The 2024/25 PSL season kicks off this weekend with two MTN8 quarter-finals scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening, Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport travels to Orlando Stadium to play the first competitive local game since the Nedbank Cup final on the first of June. And then, on Sunday afternoon Stellenbosch will host TS Galaxy at the Danie Craven Stadium. With the league season still six weeks away, all the teams will be looking to get some early momentum for their campaigns. We’ve gone into the data archives and previewed the games ahead of the weekend.

Quarter-Final 1: Orlando Pirates v SuperSport

This season’s Top 8 will be the 50th Top 8 competition of all time (since 1972), so there is something special to celebrate irrespective of how the football unfolds. In the PSL era, this is the 25th edition and Orlando Pirates have made a habit of winning this particular competition. They won the first edition in Year 2000 and the most recent edition (2023). No team has appeared in more Top 8 finals (9) and none have won more titles than them (6). The Buccaneers have won three of the last four editions and are the only side to win back-to-back titles (twice). Yet, on Saturday they come against a foe that is not just familiar but has experience like no other.

At some point this season, possibly this year, Gavin Hunt will take charge of his 1000th game – a feat no coach in the PSL has ever come close to. He’s met Jose Riveiro four times, and there is little to separate between the coaches (P4 W2 D1 L2). That said, Hunt’s side took four points from six in this fixture last season, so there could be an edge there, even if it’s only psychological. Matsatsantsa have made several signings to bolster their squad and could be a dark horse for multiple trophies this season. They also have the edge in Cup competitions between the sides in the last decade.

0 – Orlando Pirates have been eliminated in every Cup game against SuperSport in the last 10 years, last winning exactly 10 years ago (2 August 2014).

Quarter-Final 2: Stellenbosch v TS Galaxy

On Sunday afternoon, Stellenbosch hosts TS Galaxy in a repeat of the 2023 Carling Knockout Final. Stellenbosch enjoyed an incredible season in 2023/24, finishing in the Top 4 of every competition they participated in. Should they improve even further, the Top8 will be an obvious starting point. The Maroons came very close to reaching the final last time, only losing out to eventual winners Orlando Pirates by away goals. Although less impressive, TS Galaxy proved formidable in the last campaign, and participation in the Top 8 is a reward for a solid season. They are the 31st different PSL team to take part in the Top8. With the likes of Pogiso Sanoka, Lehlohonolo Mojela, Fiacre Ntwari, Higo Vidal, and more departing, the Rockets will look very different come Sunday.

Retaining Coach Sead Ramovic will be a boost to the remaining squad, providing that continuity their opponents have enjoyed for a while. That said, another person who would have celebrated Ramovic’s retention is Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker. The two coaches will be meeting for the 8th time, which is already the most the Serbian has faced another coach in the PSL. Perhaps, part of the reason he opted to stay was to rectify his poor record against Barker.

0 – Sead Ramovic is yet to win a game against Steve Barker, drawing twice and losing the other five games in their seven meetings.