Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana has outlined the internal drive fueling his side ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium against Orlando Pirates.
A rare trophy-less domestic campaign last term has reignited the club’s ambition. Kekana insists that hunger and early-season momentum will drive their performance.
Both PSL heavyweights meet for the first time this season. Each team aims to secure the campaign’s first piece of domestic silverware.
Masandawana enter the match with confidence after lifting the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup before the international break. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers maintain strong confidence as the reigning Betway Premiership champions.
Neither side has lost a league match this season. However, Sundowns suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lamontville Golden Arrows in the MTN8 semi-final first leg before advancing with a 3-2 victory in the return fixture.
Sundowns last lifted the Wafa Wafa trophy in 2021. Their opponents have won the competition four times in a row.
Despite the high stakes, Kekana downplays any personal animosity between the two giants.
“I think it’s not too personal; we don’t like personalising games. I think it’s more just about us doing better than what we did last season, and I think we have had such a good start this season,” Kekana told the media.
He emphasized that team depth and rotation play a crucial role in their current form.
“We just want to keep that momentum because we are highly motivated; we are all positive. As you can see, a lot of players have been getting a chance,” Kekana added. “I think everybody is not far off from one another.”
For Masandawana, the primary goal remains complete domestic control across all competitions.
“As Mamelodi Sundowns FC, we don’t play competitions to compete, but we play to dominate,” Kekana stated. “Last season we were unfortunate not to get anything, any trophies locally. But this season we have given ourselves a chance, especially at the start of the season.”
Key figures like squad leader Themba Zwane and midfielder Teboho Mokoena continue to play central roles in driving the team’s high performance standards.
The clash promises an intense tactical battle between two form teams aiming to set the tone for the rest of the domestic season.
According to reporting from farpost.co.za, the Pretoria side remains fully focused on executing their game plan to secure the title.
For more match coverage and insights, visit our predictions page on bettors.co.za.