By Rorisang Rampheteng
The MTN8 semifinals will pit four of South Africa’s top-flight clubs against each other in a two-legged battle for a place in the final, with defending champions Orlando Pirates facing Sekhukhune United and Mamelodi Sundowns taking on Golden Arrows.
The semifinal ties get underway this weekend, with Sekhukhune hosting Pirates at 15:00 on Saturday, 22 August, before Sundowns welcome Golden Arrows at the same time on Sunday.
The stakes are high for all four clubs, with the opening legs providing an opportunity to establish an advantage before the return fixtures the following weekend.
Pirates will travel to face Sekhukhune knowing that a positive result away from home could put them in a strong position ahead of the second leg at home on Saturday, 29 August. Sekhukhune, meanwhile, will be determined to use home advantage to put pressure on the reigning champions and take a lead into the return fixture.
In the other semifinal, Sundowns will host Golden Arrows on Sunday, with the Pretoria-based side expected to target a strong first-leg result before travelling to face Arrows in the return fixture on Sunday, 30 August.
For Golden Arrows, the challenge will be to contain Sundowns at home and remain within touching distance ahead of the decisive second leg. The two-legged format means neither semifinal will be decided this weekend, increasing the importance of managing the opening encounters and avoiding costly mistakes.
Pirates and Sekhukhune will meet again on 29 August, while Sundowns and Golden Arrows will settle the second leg a day later.
With two of the country’s biggest clubs, Pirates and Sundowns, among the contenders, the semifinals are expected to provide an early test of their ambitions for the season.
The two aggregate winners will advance to the MTN8 final and move one step closer to claiming the first major piece of silverware of the campaign.
