Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch are through to the MTN8 final after defeating Cape Town City and Sundowns over two-legs (and four days) respectively. The two teams will clash for the title at a venue yet to be confirmed, in a few weeks time (worth noting here that 6 of the last 7 finals have gone to the Moses Mabhida). We shared some stats on social media over the weekend, but this newsletter brings more context & details on the most interesting. Lets read..
On Orlando Pirates’ love affair with the Top8…
Pirates are on the verge of becoming the first team to win the Top8 title three times in a row. But their good relationship with the Top8 competitions has been going for more than five decades
The first NSL-era team to win the Top8 (1972). Check.
The first NSL-era team to win back-to-back Top8 titles (1972-1973). Check.
The first PSL-era team to win the Top8 (2000). Check.
The first PSL-era team to win back-to-back Top8 titles (2011 & 2023). Check.
The first PSL-era team to reach 10 finals (this is their 10th). Check.
The first PSL-era team to win 6 titles. Check.
On Jose Riveiro’s Cup magic…
He was quick to point out that he is not a Cup specialist, but Jose Riveiro has now reached his fifth Cup final at Orlando Pirates (three Top 8s, two Nedbank Cups). That’s more than any other Pirates coach in the PSL era.
Finals reached by Pirates coaches:
5 - Jose Riveiro
4 - Ruud Krol
3 - Roger de Sa
3 - Eric Tinkler
We’ll try find out if he holds the record overall, but competition will be close, as the likes of Tony Sanderson and Alex Forbes from the 70s may have more.
On Stellenbosch’s double delight…
1-0 at home and 1-0 away, Stellies are only the second team in PSL history to beat Sundowns home & away in a two-legged domestic Cup tie after Moroka Swallows in the 2000 Rothmans Cup Round of 16.
Back then, Peter Rabolele, Sisa Nombe, and Patrick Ningiza scored in a 3-1 home win, and then Sibusiso Mazibuko scored the only goal in a 1-0 away win.
To provide more background, the Stellies double-header was the 22nd time that Sundowns were playing a two-legged tie in domestic competitions [11 times in the League/Rothmans Cup in the late 90s, 10 times in the MTN8 and once in the Bob Save Super Bowl].
On Steve Barker’s dominance over Sundowns…
4 - Since Stellies’ promotion to the top flight in 2019, no coach has won more games against Sundowns in all competitions than Steve Barker. For statistical purposes, penalty shootout wins are considered as draws, but a 90-minute and extra-time win is counted as a win.
Most wins by a coach over Sundowns (last five years):
4 times - Steve Barker
2 - Jose Riveiro
2 - Ernst Middendorp
2 - Gavin Hunt
1 - nine other coaches
On Sundowns luck…
Depending on how you look at striking the woodwork, Sundowns can consider themselves unlucky. They struck the woodwork six times in 3 games during the MTN8 quarter-finals and semis. Twice against Polokwane City, twice in the 1st leg against Stellies and twice in the second.
To put this into context, Downs struck the woodwork just seven times in domestic competitions throughout last season.
39 domestic games* in 2023/24: 7 strikes of the woodwork (0.18 strikes per game)
3 games in 2024/25: 6 strikes of the woodwork (2 per game)
*excludes the Carling Knockout (no detailed data)
DID YOU KNOW: Hitting the woodwork is not considered a shot on target. Ha..
WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON?
With the Betway Premiership starting soon, we’ll be working on some Matchday 1 stats. Top scorers on MD1, longest unbeaten/winless runs on MD1 etc. For the everpresent four teams, we should pick up if MD1’s Starting XI is the oldest or youngest ever, most MD1 games by a player etc(Themba Zwane keeps popping up in a lot of MD1 stats). If time allows, we should have something for all 16 teams. Please subscribe - it goes a long way in making all this possible.
Throwback picture for this week