Chiefs moving towards Pirates in MTN8 agony amid historical success for both clubs
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Fernando da Cruz has already suffered his first cup competition exit at Kaizer Chiefs just two games into his tenure. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
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Chiefs moving towards Pirates in MTN8 agony amid historical success for both clubs
Aug 11, 2026 – 10:04 am
By Lovemore Moyo
For all the success that Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have enjoyed in the history of the MTN8, they are also in competition for the concerning trend of first-round exits during the PSL era years.
The quarterfinal defeat to Golden Arrows put the count for the occasions that Chiefs have failed to go past what stands as the first round of the MTN8 all the way to seven in the PSL era.
Fernando da Cruz couldn’t get the Naturena-based side past the first hurdle, leaving him with a longer wait to deliver silverware in this job.
Gavin Hunt suffered a similar fate five years ago, just like Steve Komphela faced the same two years in a row during his time at the Soweto giants after being booted out by Cape Town City and SuperSport United.
Stuart Baxter’s first stint with the men in Gold and Black started with a 4-1 hammering against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarterfinals.
Then, in 2005, Ernst Middendorp surrendered to Bloemfontein Celtic in the quarterfinals.
Two years earlier, Ted Dumitru had also watched in disbelief as Amakhosi were also knocked out by Wits University in the quarterfinals.
The catalogue of woes that Chiefs have experienced in the Top Eight at all stages in the PSL era stretches back to when Ajax Cape Town staged a late show in August 2000 as they won 3-0 in the semi-finals with Hillay Makasa, Steven Pienaar, and Carlo Scott all scoring in the last seven minutes.
Though Pirates have won the MTN8 four years in a row, they have suffered worse in first-round exits of the competition compared to their old foes.
Bucs have gone out in the quarterfinals of the MTN8 as many as 10 times.
Through the PSL era years, their first exit at the first round (quarterfinals) was in 2003 when they lost to Jomo Cosmos in what became Lesley Manyathela’s last match for the club, as he was then involved in an accident that took his life hours later as he made his way home to Musina.
The other exits at the same stage came in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
With Chiefs out of the MTN8, the men in Black and White can now match their Soweto rivals’ PSL era trophy collection if they lift this trophy for the fifth consecutive year.
Pirates have moved up to 20 trophies, while the Glamour Boys have taken 10 years to move from 20 to 21.