Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise, speaking to the press in Chulcrop in Midrand, prepared for the grand final against Orlando Pirates.
MTN8 Final
Mkhulise emphasized that despite the Buccaneers' dominance in the tournament in recent years, his team will never be considered an underdog. "Pirates" have won the cup four times in a row and are aiming for a fifth consecutive title when the teams meet at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, "Sundowns" has not won a trophy since 2021, but they enter the final confidently after a recent victory in the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup, where they defeated "Al Ahli Saudi" in the final.
Speaking to journalists at the "Sundowns" training base in Chulcrop on Wednesday, Mkhulise believes that the recent victory gives them an advantage ahead of the upcoming confrontation.
He stated: "Approaching this game, I think we have a kind of advantage and upper hand because we recently won a trophy." He continued: "Mamelodi Sundowns will never be underdogs, and that in itself always gives us an advantage over our opponents. We have the best management, coaches, and players in the club, so we will always have an advantage."
Sundowns' dominance in the local league over the last decade has not always translated into the same success in cup competitions. The "Brazilians" have won the league title multiple times but have struggled to replicate this consistency in the playoffs, acknowledging Mkhulise's observation about the different demands of cup matches.
He noted: "Playing in cup matches is not easy. It is not like the league because, as they say, the league is a marathon, while in cup games, teams give their all." He added: "It's not that we don't give our all, but we will try to give our all this time and hope to win this final."
For Mkhulise, the final on Saturday also represents an opportunity to win an award on home soil, as the midfielder hails from KwaZulu-Natal. He added: "It would be truly special for me to add another winner's medal and lift this trophy in my province [KwaZulu-Natal]."
"Pirates" will arrive in Durban with the aim of extending their outstanding streak and getting closer to Kaizer Chiefs' record of 15 top-eight titles. However, "Sundowns" will strive to break this streak and reclaim the trophy they have not won in five years.
The final, which promises to be completely sold out, is scheduled for 18:00 on Saturday.