THE MTN 8: Wooooooooza Weekend, PIRATES OR CHIEFS?

Set your bets ready, which team will shine and take home (ama) millions

All roads will be heading to FNB stadium this Saturday to watch the MTN 8 concluding between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. It is wafa wafa “Do or Die” the stake is elevated the winner will take home 8 million in Rands. There is no need for skepticism that this will be one of the most Fascinating clash between the Soweto giants. At present both teams are playing an alluring football. Orlando Pirates has won the treble this last season including the MTN 8 which they have to defend on Saturday. Amakhosi will be striving hard to settle the score and prove the point that they are the cup specialists. These teams will be meeting for the 144^th time in the history of football. The last three finals that they have played in 20 years have all been taken by the “Tshintsha Golova Boys” if the mighty Bucs win on Saturday it will be history in the making.

Sponsors say they look ahead to a full house come the game time on Saturday. By Tuesday all ground stand tickets were sold out. Eelier on there were doubts on the availability of Moneeb Joseph and Tlou Segolela ahead of this game due to injuries, but the team has assured its fans that the two has fully recovered and will be available for selection. It is not yet apparent whether Bucs will give their newly signed striker Tokelo Rantjie the game time on the derby day. Rantjie has joined Bucs on loan from second division Swedish side IFK Hasslehom.

Pirates will be going to this match without their big gun Benni McCarthy who is still on suspension due to the red card he got when they were playing against Maritzburg united. Amakhosi will be going to this game with their midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane available after being out of action for almost two months due to a knee injury.

There is no doubt that the battle will be on the midfield. Tinashe Nengomasha, Reneilwe Letsholonyane together with Simphiwe Tshabalala will be expected to make it happen by taking on Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa. Lehlohonolo Majoro and Bernard Parker will be expected to give Orlando defence a hard time. One should not forget the likes of Josta Dladla who is on form lately.  Lucky Baloyi in Chiefs colours is showing growth in the Midfield. Nevertheless, defenders of both teams are expected to be on duty for the full 90 minutes or more than that should they not score within normal time.

The matter is who will be crowned the MTN 8 champions for 2011? Will the Buccaneers who are the hosts prolong with their cup collection campaign, or will Amakhosi continue with the reign over Sea robbers on cup competitions. The last time these two sides met it was on the Carling cup where Pirates emerged victorious. The last time they met on a cup competition Amakhosi won the million Rands to Naturena. So far in the Chiefs camp Dladla and Majoro have showed their hunger for goals this season, while in the rival family it’s not yet clear who will shine when it comes to persuading the ball to kiss the net, but still the fact remains one team must go down on Saturday and the other must walk away with the 8 million Rands. Will it go Naturena or Parktown? The answer will be provided on Saturday night. The game will start at 8:15.

Story by Luvo Mlobeli/ Leave your comments for me below the comment box or send them via email to sportxtra@goxtranews.com

©The views expressed above do not in any way represent GoXtra News, but are those of the concerned writer. 2011. Follow us on twitter here  Find us on Facebook here /leave your comments below or email: editor@goxtranews. For publication ERRORS: publisher@goxtranews.com