Durban – The debate of who’s the king of Maskandi and South African football will go on!
But the names Mthandeni, Orlando Pirates, Relebohile Mofokeng reigned supreme at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.
Mthandeni, the musician, didn’t only lift this stadium’s roof with his pre-match live act, but his meaning of his name summed up what this match was all about.
Mthandeni could be loosely translated into a lot of things related to love. As such, that was embodied in this MTN8 final given that there was everything to love all round.
The Ghost will be the most in-love group of supporters with their team as they completed an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ in the competition.
But what about Stellenbosch? The Ghost, their fans, and discerning observers will not help but feel for them given their brand of football they played here, and upward trajectory.
You see, there’s nothing as lovely as watching a final against two of the best teams in the land - a category that both Stellies and Pirates duly fit into.
The two sides came into match on the back of 10 games already, including showing their prowess by reaching the respective group stages of continental football.
That both Pirates and Stellies had won their last two MTN8s and Carling Knockout cup at this venue showed – not only by this resounding performance, but by their aura as well.
The two sides had ooze when they did their pitch inspection – Stellies’ coach Steve Barker stood at the centre as if he was gauging the stage where they’d be crowned champions. Hope that never came!
Stellies’ chief executive Rob Bernadie walked around the stadium as if he was looking for his lost cousin or child just before kick amid a host of the Ghost. Perhaps, he should have done that after full-time.
By the time all that had happened, Sipho Chaine had long done his warm-up lap, running around his goal to the loud cheers and standing ovation of the home supporters.
Granted, he conceded first here courtesy of Lehlohonolo Mojela’s acrobatic shot early on, but the Ghost duly remembered how he steered them to the last Wafa Wafa cup here.
Such is the love that the Ghost have for their own and the team this venue burst into euphoria whenever the ‘Asambe Nono’ or ‘We Tito, We Tito, We Tito’ chants were sung.
Sure, football is played by players and it is for the fans, but the reason why both coaches Barker and Jose Riveiro endeared themselves to not only their fans by the fraternity proved here.
After trailing, Riveiro cut a dejected figure, kneeling as if he was asking the heavens how they’d turn the tide, while Barker walked on the touchline line like a shepherd keeping his sheep alive.
And with the help of another prayer from their supporters – who screamed their lungs out and sang ‘Mbombo Vuleka’ when Deon Hotto stood over a set-piece – Riveiro’s prayers were answered.
Hotto hit a diagonal ball which Stephens parried into Pirates usual messiah Monnapule Saleng who needed no second invite as he blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
The Sea Robbers ship was in full swing at half-time, carrying their beloved Ghost of which some had burst open a red flare, somewhat sending danger to Stellies ahead of the second half.
Half-time came and went. And while the sold-out crowd caught their breath, a lucky fan had newly found undying love with sponsors MTN after bagging R1 Million after winning a quiz.
And having shown their never-say-die attitude in the second half in recent matches, scoring late goals, Pirates looked to be back at it early on as Hotto rattled the crossbar.
And perhaps to the delight of Riveiro and worry of Barker, who had both cut those contrasting figures from the first half, Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa still yet came on.
The duo were trump cards in the 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final, with Mofokeng even becoming the hero by scoring a late winner. A feat that repeated itself.
The Pirates youngster proved why he’s loved by all as he sent this stadium into a frenzy just by the virtue of his imminent cameo on the big screen.
Boy, the Mofokeng party soon got started. The teenager controlled with a delirious touch inside the box, after Kabelo Dlamini’s pass, before his resultant shot forced a save out of Stephens.
And just when Mabasa seemed to have delivered the trophy for Pirates, slotting home after referee Abongile Tom played an advantage for a free kick on Maswanganyi, Pirates’ jewel stood up.
Mofokeng beat the offside trap and went on a two-and-one with Stephens and his defender, he proved he has nerves of steel, leaving the two for dead before passing into net.
And for the hero he was, he was not only worshipped by his teammates on the pitch, but those on the bench as well as they exchanged turns to hoist him in delight.
‘Asambe Nono’ was in full blast – accompanied by torches which lit up Pirates’ victory – but this final was signalled by the love that engulfed this venue!