Khoza Sets Sights On Betway Premiership After Historic MTN8 Win

Following Orlando Pirates’ record-extending fourth consecutive MTN8 title, club director Mpume Khoza said the team must now focus on winning the biggest prize: the Betway Premiership.

The Buccaneers secured the Wafa Wafa Cup with a 3-0 extra-time victory over Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday in what was initially a tactical chess match.

This triumph was the first for coach Abdelsam Ouaddou, who took over from the popular Jose Riveiro, a three-time winner of this trophy.

“What is most important is to thank our supporters, because they’re the 12th man who keep us going,” Khoza told SuperSport TV.

Pirates have finished as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the last three seasons, a side that has mastered the art of winning games consistently, unlike the Buccaneers.

Khoza continued, “And obviously, you know, for the team, the coaches, and the players—all of them put in the hard work. When we went on preseason, which our chairman [Irvin Khoza] initially took, it was as if it was a shot in the dark, but he invested in it, and we are thankful that it pays off in tournaments like this. We hope that when we go on to the league, our things will have time to settle and come together.”

This is the 14th top-eight trophy in the club’s history, their fifth in the last six seasons. Khoza said their duty as club management is to continue building on the club’s history by winning trophies.

“I think, as our chairman has already said to us, that our job is always to improve the history of Orlando Pirates,” said Khoza.

“I think the players who have come in today, the young captain in Mbekezeli Mbokazi, having a fourth title in a row, is a testament to improving the history of the club, which is what we’re about.”