Weekend Results: MTN8 Kickoff Tournament
Record-Breaking MTN8 Quarter-Finals Light Up PSL
The 2025 MTN8 quarter-finals in the PSL era have set a new record, with an impressive 16 goals scored - the highest ever in the tournament’s quarter-final stage. The games were filled with standout performances, historic achievements, and a few unexpected twists.
Oswin Appollis, making his debut for a new club, scored a goal and was named Man of the Match, potentially dispelling doubts about his readiness for a bigger club. His team, Sekhukhune United, managed a historic achievement of their own, winning a game for the first time when losing by 2-0 or more, in their first ever semi-final appearance in a competition.
Sanele Barns, whose role in the game was not specified, was noted for significantly improving from a poor previous season, scoring multiple goals early in the new season during the quarter-finals. Iqraam Rayners, of Mamelodi Sundowns, also shone, scoring in the quarter-finals contributing to Sundowns' 4-0 win - their biggest winning margin ever in a Top8 game. Rayners reached a milestone of 25 cup competition goals in his PSL career, tying with Khama Billiat and Raphael Chukwu.
Orlando Pirates, the defending champions aiming for a fourth consecutive MTN8 title, showed dominance entering this stage, with a strong historical record of 18 unbeaten games against Polokwane City in all competitions. However, they were not the only winners, as TS Galaxy, who have remained undefeated since their top-flight promotion in 2020, lost a game for the first time when leading 2-0.
The quarter-finals were marred by poor pitch conditions, with three of the four surfaces looking neglected. League action is set to resume this weekend with a need for better playing surfaces.
Abdeslam Ouaddou, the new coach of Pirates, has a significant task ahead, as his predecessor won five trophies, the joint-most titles by a Pirates coach in history. Meanwhile, Bradley Grobler, at 37 years old and in his 19th PSL season, scored a brace in his debut for Sekhukhune United, igniting a win from 2-0 down. Grobler's brace moved him to third on the list of highest scorers in the PSL era, behind Shalulile (128) and Nomvethe (129).
In summary, the 2025 MTN8 quarter-finals were marked by record goal-scoring feats, impressive individual performances, and historic achievements by teams. Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns were the notable winning sides, while underperformers included those who had previously struggled but showed mixed performances. The league action resumes this weekend with a need for improved playing surfaces.
Sanele Barns' impressive goal-scoring form in the new season during the quarter-finals demonstrates his improvement from a poor previous season in sports, particularly in football. Iqraam Rayners' contribution to Mamelodi Sundowns' 4-0 win in the quarter-finals not only showcased his skills in sports, but also solidified his place in sports-analysis discussions with his 25 cup competition goals, tying with Khama Billiat and Raphael Chukwu.
