The day has finally come where defending champions Orlando Pirates will either prevail and retain their crown or witness Mamelodi Sundowns claim the throne and become the new kings of the MTN8.
Pirates will be hosting Sundowns in a dream final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening. Kick-off time is at 6pm.
It will be a sold-out affair at the Mabhida Stadium, after the match tickets were sold out within 17 hours after they were made available to the public.
Police in KwaZulu-Natal, working with various law enforcement agencies, have since put safety and security measures in place to ensure the successful hosting of the MTN8 final match.
“Just over 50 000 people are expected to witness the match live and law enforcement agencies have deployed accordingly to safeguard the fans, players and officials from both clubs and all interested parties,” Colonel Robert Netshiunda said.
“The gates will open at 14:00 on Saturday and people are urged to make their way to the stadium early to avoid delays due to traffic congestion.
“Supporters are sensitized not to buy counterfeit tickets from criminals as there are no more match tickets available.
“Police visibility will be maintained in and around the stadium, with the traffic officials manning the main routes leading to the stadium before, during and after the match.”
Although the Durban metro police have confirmed that no road closures will be affected on the day, police road-blocks and searches will be expected to ascertain that vehicles and spectators getting into the stadium are cleared of any prohibited items.
The match is expected to produce fireworks, quality, and exciting football, as both sides have proven time and again in previous meetings.
Sundowns go into the encounter with an upper hand, having beaten the Sea Robbers in the DStv Premiership this season.
Pirates, on the other hand, will be expected to enjoy most of the support and will want to use it to their advantage to down the Brazilians and clinch the first new-look MTN8 trophy.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
