“More Than Tactics”: Ouaddou Issues Rallying Cry As Pirates Defend MTN8 Dominance Against Sundowns
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says that while past cup dominance over Mamelodi Sundowns provides a psychological boost, Saturday’s MTN8 final is a completely different ball game where his side must show up and perform.
Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will become the cathedral of South African football on Saturday as the country comes to a standstill for the sold-out spectacle between Pirates and Sundowns.
The showdown pits together the two teams that have dominated the MTN8 over the past six seasons, with the Buccaneers lifting the trophy five times and four in a row, during that span compared to the Brazilians’ single triumph.
Both powerhouses are coming off landmark campaigns. Pirates ended Sundowns’ eight-year stranglehold on the Betway Premiership last season, claiming their first league crown in 14 years to complete an extraordinary domestic treble.
Meanwhile, Sundowns secured continental glory by winning the CAF Champions League, becoming the first South African club to lift Africa’s premier club trophy twice.
When it comes to head-to-head cup ties, Pirates hold a distinct mental edge. The Sea Robbers defeated Sundowns on penalties at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the 2023/24 MTN8 final, before repeating the feat against the Tshwane giants in the Nedbank Cup final at Mbombela Stadium later that same season.
Furthermore, Pirates ousted Sundowns on penalties in the MTN8 semi-finals last term, having also swept them aside 3–0 on aggregate in the 2022/23 edition.
Remarkably, Sundowns have failed to defeat Pirates in an MTN8 tie since MTN assumed sponsorship of the tournament ahead of the 2008/09 season.
Despite that historical head-start, Ouaddou remains wary.
“It is a different game, a different era,” said Ouaddou.
“You have to prepare for it with a lot of ambition and seriousness. Teams change their approach, and coaches adjust their strategies.
“While past success can help psychologically, the reality comes down to match day—how you attack the game, how you start, how you prepare, and how well you exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.
“Psychologically, our record helps, but on the day it is 11 versus 11. You have to bring fighting spirit and play with heart. Winning a cup final isn’t just about tactics—you have to dig deeper and play with desire to win that kind of game.”
Moses Mabhida Stadium has become a fortress for Pirates, hoisting three of their recent MTN8 final victories (2020, 2022, and 2023/24 against Sundowns).
However, Ouaddou remained emphatical: “It is a cup game; it is a big difference compared to the league game.”
