Orlando Pirates will begin their MTN8 title defence against Durban City on Saturday, 8 August at Orlando Amstel Arena.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
The 2026 MTN8 which launches on Wednesday has been using the same format for years where a team that finishes top of the log faces a team that finishes eighth.
And having won the Betway Premiership last season, the Sea Robbers set up a date with Khalil Ben Youssef’s Durban City.
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ORLANDO PIRATES TO BEGIN MTN8 TITLE DEFENCE WITH IMPRESSIVE RECORD
Pirates won the MTN8 a record four times in a row between 2022 and 2025 under the leadership of two coaches.
Former coach Jose Riveiro won it thrice before he left after three seasons while Abdeslam Ouaddou won it in his first campaign with Pirates.
Interestingly, the Soweto giants have lost just once in the competition since 2022, and this was against Stellenbosch FC in the return leg of the semifinals.
They won the first leg 2-1 away from home before going down 1-0 to Stellies on 24 September 2023 in the second leg but advanced to the MTN8 final on away-goal rule.
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WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS SAYING?
Since the start of the 2022 MTN8 campaign, Pirates have played 16 matches in the competition.
They won a whopping 10, drew five and lost just once in the process – it is the same run that saw them bag four MTN8 titles in a row.
Furthermore, Pirates are the second most successful team in the competition with 14 titles to their name. Only Kaizer Chiefs have more (15).
This year could prove crucial as Ouaddou’s charges would want to smash that long-standing Amakhosi record.
