Ntuthuko Maphumulo soccer
Orlando Pirates might have three trophies in their cabinet and a large sum of money in their bank account at the end of this season. The BP Top 8 champions are front-runners in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and have a good chance of making it a hat-trick after drawing troubled Moroka Swallows in the quarterfinals of the Bob Save Super Bowl this week.
Pirates coach Gordon Igesund said after the draw: “There is no easy team in the quarter- finals, but we’re glad we stayed away from [Kaizer] Chiefs.”
The last eight is made up of four of the current top teams in the PSL (Pirates, Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Santos), three teams facing relegation from the division (Moroka Swallows, Manning Rangers and Bloemfontein Celtic) and one team looking to be promoted to the PSL (Maritzburg City) currently number three in the coastal first division in the MTN league.
Chiefs are the defending Bob Save champions and will be looking to defend their cup at all costs to please their fans as they appear to have fallen out of contention in the PSL title race.
The R1,5-million winners’cheque is a great motivation for Chiefs, who became a millionaire’s team after winning the lucrative but now discontinued Rothmans Cup twice. Their former coach Paul Dolezar says “once a millionaire always a millionaire”.
Sundowns must not be left out for they hope to become PSL champions for the fourth time in a row and top it with the Bob Save crown.
The three teams facing relegation will be hoping to restore some pride and at least leave the PSL with a bang, while Mariztburg City will be hoping to make a dramatic entrance to the top division.
Maritzburg City general manager Senzo Msimang said: “We hope to make history by being the first team from the MTN league to win the Bob Save Super Bowl.”
The quarterfinals start next weekend, with all matches expected to be completed on the day there will be no replays. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will be played followed by a penalty shoot-out if the teams still cannot be separated. The final takes place on June 9.
Quarterfinal draw: Swallows vs Orlando Pirates, Sundowns vs Manning Rangers, Bloemfontein Celtic vs Kaizer Chiefs, Santos vs Maritzburg City.