Mntambo Reveals Trophy Ambitions Ahead Of MTN8 Opener
Sekhukhune United captain Linda Mntambo has spoken about the club’s ambition to be a force to be reckoned with in domestic cup competitions next season, ahead of their opening match of the MTN8 on Saturday.
Babina Noko will kickstart their 2025/26 campaign with a visit from TS Galaxy at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in an effort to book a spot in the semi-final of the top eight tournament – a feat the club is yet to achieve.
In their maiden participation, Sekhukhune were sent packing in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Orlando Pirates in the 2023/24 season, before falling short to the now-relegated Cape Town City last season.
Despite the shortcomings, the skipper is confident the Limpopo side can stand its ground in cup competitions this season, stating that the squad is optimistic about lifting at least two trophies to etch their names in the history books of the team.
“Every team that’s in the competition wants to win it but our focus now is on the job at hand against TS Galaxy. I think that will determine how far we go; we just want to get past the first hurdle and take it a game at a time,” said Mntambo.
“Yes, for sure we want to win a trophy. I think this is a season where even us, as players, want to win a trophy or two to also write our names in the history books of the club, as young as the club is, we have never won a trophy.
“It would be nice for me as captain of the club, I would love to lift a trophy and cement my name as one of the legends of the club, one to have brought a trophy to the club and that’s what we are looking forward to, but not putting a lot of pressure on ourselves.”
With the squad boasting multiple seasoned professionals who have tasted victory in the MTN8 before, Mntambo says there is a feeling that the team will break its duck and secure a first-ever top-flight trophy in the upcoming campaign.
“Yes, [there is a feeling this could be the season], the mood has been good, positive energy throughout, even in camp. The coach [Eric Tinkler] asked us if we wanted it, and we were in agreement as players that it’s something that we want for ourselves, our families, and for our careers,” he added.
“It’s always important as a player to win silverware, and that’s where we want to go. We have several players who have won this trophy before; our new signing, Miguel Timm, has won it with Orlando Pirates and Bradley Grobler has won it with SuperSport United.
“I am not quite sure if Daniel Cardoso has won it, but he has won trophies in his career. I won it with Thabang Monare at Pirates. We know the feeling, it’s the first competition of the season and it’s just three games to the final, so we just hope that we get past the first hurdle and hopefully find ourselves in the final winning it.”
The former Pirates midfielder made 55 appearances across all competitions for Sekhukhune since joining the club in July 2022. The 36-year-old playmaker scored 13 goals and provided seven assists for Babina Noko to date.
