Revenge isn’t on the menu for Stellenbosch in MTN8 final

Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Sage Stephens insists that his team is not seeking revenge as they prepare to face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday at Mbombela Stadium.

The clash is a rematch of last season’s controversial final, which Pirates won 3-1 in extra time to claim their third consecutive title. That match was remembered for a contentious second goal by the Soweto giants, which came from an incorrectly taken free kick when the score was tied 1-1.

Despite the history, Stephens is focused on the present. “We don’t look at this game as a chance for revenge. What is done is done, it’s all in the past,” he told reporters. “We are viewing this final as one single game. This game has nothing to do with the final we played last season.”

The 27-year-old goalkeeper described a positive atmosphere within the Stellenbosch camp, saying they are “bubbly, full of energy, and we’re looking forward to putting on a good show.”

While acknowledging the threat posed by Pirates, Stephens believes his team has the quality to end their opponents’ winning streak. “On any given day, Pirates are a difficult opponent to come up against, hence they’ve won this tournament three times in a row, so we give them that respect,” he said. “But in the same sense, Stellenbosch has its own qualities. There’s no team better than us to stop their brilliant MTN8 run.”

Stephens also hopes that a victory in the final will kickstart their league campaign, which has seen them struggle with one win, one draw, and three defeats in their opening five matches. “We’ve fixed that and took the positives, and we’re looking at this game as a chance to also slingshot ourselves through our league campaign,” he added.

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