Grant Kekana makes bullish Sundowns claim ahead of MTN8 final

10.10.26 12:00 MTN 8 Cup South Africa

Orlando Pirates

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Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana has made a bullish claim ahead of the humdinger MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates at the stroried Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

The Brazilians head into the highly-anticipated match desperately looking to lift a domestic cup title for the first time since the 2021/22 campaign, while the Buccaneers are gunning for a fifth successive top eight crown.

Notably, Sundowns have already bagged a trophy this season in the form of the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup at the expense of Asian champions Al Ahli SC of Saudi Arabia before the international break.

Miguel Cardoso's men will be eager to strengthen their bid for a clean sweep of trophies by winning the MTN8 cup, with Kekana stating that the mandate at Chloorkop is to assert dominance in every competition.

“I think here at Mamelodi Sundowns we don't play competitions to compete, I think we play them to dominate. Last season we were unfortunate not to get any trophies locally,” said the Downs stalwart.

"But this season we've given ourselves a chance, especially at the start of the season, we were still adjusting to get a local trophy. So, we're highly motivated and I think the lads are just eager and ready to go.

With Sundowns and Pirates proving to be the main suppliers of players for the national team in recent times, the centre-half says the comradery in the Bafana camp has helped to prevent the club rivalry from escalating beyond the pitch.

“I think the brotherhood has helped us a lot in terms of having an understanding of each other even as rivals. And football has evolved, I think even when I arrived at Sundowns there was always a battle,” Kekana added.

"And right now it's about the one who can get it right tactically, so it's going to be another one of those. We just hope that it's going to be an enjoyable one for the neutrals especially, and our supporters.

"So, we're going to leave everything on the field even if it has to be a piece of our skin.

Whether Sundowns will end their domestic cup hood with Pirates' scalp remains to be seen, having lost to the Sea Robbers in the MTN8 final in the 2023/24 season and in the semi-final last term.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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