Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns will clash in the MTN8 final at Mbomblea Stadium on Saturday.
While Gavin Hunt is looking to win his first trophy with the Clever Boys, Pitso Mosimane will be looking for a victory that will lift his team’s confidence ahead of the Caf Champions league final. Hosea Ramphekwa and Mazola Molefe predict the winner
Why Sundowns will win
Mamelodi Sundowns are highly charged up, the Brazilians having achieved big feats despite a multiplicity of challenges. Pitso Mosimane’s men are living up to their mantra ‘against all odds’.
They have put on decent performances in the last 15 months during which they won two trophies - the Absa Premiership and the Telkom Knockout. On top of that, they have reached the finals of both the MTN8 and the CAF Champions League.
Mosimane's obession with success is legendary and the former Bafana Bafana is renowned for leaving no stone unturned in planning for victory.
While he has won this competition before, he has not captured it since it became sponsored by the cellular network. That alone is sure to see Jingles come up with a masterplan to outdo Gavin Hunt.
And with his team on a high following their qualification for the final of the continental showpiece, Mosimane won't have a lot of motivating to do.
Under his guidance, the Brazilians have literally dominated the domestic scene and nothing will set them on course to defending their championship title than starting the current campaign with success in the season-opening competition.
New captain Hlompho Kekana would love to lift the trophy and surrounded by such talented players as Khama Billiat, Keegan Dolly and Tiyani Mabunda to mention just two, Sundowns should prove too powerful for Wits at the weekend.
Why Bidvest Wits will win
We all agree that Gavin Hunt has finally assembled the best Bidvest Wits team in his four years at the club, and on Saturday they will show why they are genuine Absa Premiership title contenders. The Clever Boysface reigning league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the MTN8 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
A tough, yet winnable match. Sundowns reached the final of the CAF Champions League at the weekend, but it has probably come at a cost with coach Pitso Mosimane having to rotate his squad to deal with fatigue and keeping his big squad happy.
His counterpart Hunt has no such problems - not yet anyway. Wits, who were already excused from a midweek fixture because they are playing in a final, had their league match against Orlando Pirates on Saturday night postponed because of student protests at their university grounds.
It’s a slight irritation, but perhaps a plus in the form of fresh legs as opposed to the opposition, who have been quite busy with domestic and continental commitments. More importantly, though,
Hunt has players with big match temperament this season. Elias Pelembe, Daine Klate, Gabadinho Mhango and captain Thulani Hlatshwayo will be determined to help the club win their first trophy in six long years.
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno
The Star