Take it from me, Pirates will win this one and the goals will come from the usual suspects - Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. Pirates' coach Vladimir Vermezovic should stick to his starting line-up, with Majoro starting from the bench.
SIMON RAMAFALO
Mabaleng a Dipapadi (Thobela FM)
ORLANDO Pirates will lift the MTN8 trophy in Durban with a 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
Take it from me, Pirates will win this one and the goals will come from the usual suspects - Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. Pirates' coach Vladimir Vermezovic should stick to his starting line-up, with Majoro starting from the bench.
This has worked for Pirates and the coach should not change what is working. He should not fix what is not broken.
Majoro should be a key player for Pirates because he knows how things are done at Chiefs after having spent time in Naturena. The same goes to Vermezovic, who had a coaching spell at Chiefs before switching to Bucs.
Amakhosi will be vulnerable between the sticks after the injury of their No.1 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who has proved to be Chiefs' saviour. It's a major blow for them to go into such a massive match without his safe hands.
I really don't see either Brilliant Khuzwayo or Reyaad Pieterse keeping the likes of Erasmus and Majoro at bay. They will also have to deal with Thabo Matlaba, who has a penchant for scoring.
I heard that Thandani Ntshumayelo will be available for selection after recovering from an injury, and this will add another dimension in Bucs' midfield. The boy is a hard worker and a good marker of the ball.
He will be complemented by seasoned campaigners like Oupa Manyisa, another player who holds the key for Bucs.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane and company should work tirelessly to contain Pirates midfielders.
There is also a matter of desperation at Chiefs' dressing room after they finished last season without silverware. Their desperation to lay their hands on the MTN8 trophy could result in them committing unnecessary mistakes.
Chiefs' 100% start to the season could come back to haunt them in the sense that it could lull them into a false sense of security.
No team can afford to be complacent against a team of Pirates' stature.
Saturday's [tomorrow's] match will be a different ball game altogether, and Chiefs better prepare well.
I strongly believe that the Buccaneers will sink their teeth into the match and "Happy People" will be happy again.
CEBO MANYAAPELO
Host of Mamepe (Motsweding FM)
ORLANDO Pirates have the edge over Kaizer Chiefs in the final of the MTN8 tomorrow.
They will have the edge because their coach Vladimir Vermezovic will be playing with his normal team. He has not been tampering with his team like Chiefs have been doing of late.
The absence of Chiefs' inspirational goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will also give Pirates an advantage.
I'm not saying Chiefs don't have good goalkeepers, but I think they don't have big match temperament. The stage will be too big for them.
But Pirates should be reminded that Chiefs always come out on top in Durban and if Pirates allow them to score first, there will be problem for the Buccaneers.
I have covered more than 100 Soweto derbies and to be honest this one is unique.
It is unique in the sense that the two teams go into this match in scintillating form as they usually meet in contrasting form.
While I anticipate a thrilling final, I still don't think the match will produce the thrills as both sides are likely to plod cautiously based on their current impressive form.
They are probably aware that any slip-up could be costly.
Granted, Chiefs have had a perfect start to the season after winning nine games in all competitions, but they know that they will face a real test of character against their arch-rivals.
I anticipate an exciting duel between Mandla Masango of Chiefs and Pirates' Thabo Matlaba and this could be where the tie could be won or lost.
Against Matlaba, Masango will face a very tricky and mobile left-back who is dangerous going forward.
Matlaba is not afraid to take opponents head-on and his crosses will come in handy for the likes of Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. He can also score goals.
The Chiefs winger will also need to be tricky enough going into Matlaba's territory because Matlaba will surely not allow Masango and company to do as they please in his corner.
So it will require a lot of trickery from whoever invades Matlaba's territory.
While Erasmus poses serious threats to Chiefs' ambitions, the in-form Pirates striker could well be frustrated by Tefu Mashamaite.
Mashamaite is a very intelligent defender and he can be a handful for Erasmus if he follows the instructions to the letter.
Like I said earlier this match is bound to be enthralling and I hope the players of both teams have done their homework.
Cebo Manyaapelo and Simon Ramafalo are popular sport presenters at Motsweding FM and Thobela FM, and here they speak to Mcelwa Nchabeleng about tomorrow's highly anticipated derby
Take it from me, Pirates will win this one and the goals will come from the usual suspects - Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. Pirates' coach Vladimir Vermezovic should stick to his starting line-up, with Majoro starting from the bench.
SIMON RAMAFALO
Mabaleng a Dipapadi (Thobela FM)
ORLANDO Pirates will lift the MTN8 trophy in Durban with a 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
Take it from me, Pirates will win this one and the goals will come from the usual suspects - Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. Pirates' coach Vladimir Vermezovic should stick to his starting line-up, with Majoro starting from the bench.
This has worked for Pirates and the coach should not change what is working. He should not fix what is not broken.
Majoro should be a key player for Pirates because he knows how things are done at Chiefs after having spent time in Naturena. The same goes to Vermezovic, who had a coaching spell at Chiefs before switching to Bucs.
Amakhosi will be vulnerable between the sticks after the injury of their No.1 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who has proved to be Chiefs' saviour. It's a major blow for them to go into such a massive match without his safe hands.
I really don't see either Brilliant Khuzwayo or Reyaad Pieterse keeping the likes of Erasmus and Majoro at bay. They will also have to deal with Thabo Matlaba, who has a penchant for scoring.
I heard that Thandani Ntshumayelo will be available for selection after recovering from an injury, and this will add another dimension in Bucs' midfield. The boy is a hard worker and a good marker of the ball.
He will be complemented by seasoned campaigners like Oupa Manyisa, another player who holds the key for Bucs.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane and company should work tirelessly to contain Pirates midfielders.
There is also a matter of desperation at Chiefs' dressing room after they finished last season without silverware. Their desperation to lay their hands on the MTN8 trophy could result in them committing unnecessary mistakes.
Chiefs' 100% start to the season could come back to haunt them in the sense that it could lull them into a false sense of security.
No team can afford to be complacent against a team of Pirates' stature.
Saturday's [tomorrow's] match will be a different ball game altogether, and Chiefs better prepare well.
I strongly believe that the Buccaneers will sink their teeth into the match and "Happy People" will be happy again.
CEBO MANYAAPELO
Host of Mamepe (Motsweding FM)
ORLANDO Pirates have the edge over Kaizer Chiefs in the final of the MTN8 tomorrow.
They will have the edge because their coach Vladimir Vermezovic will be playing with his normal team. He has not been tampering with his team like Chiefs have been doing of late.
The absence of Chiefs' inspirational goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will also give Pirates an advantage.
I'm not saying Chiefs don't have good goalkeepers, but I think they don't have big match temperament. The stage will be too big for them.
But Pirates should be reminded that Chiefs always come out on top in Durban and if Pirates allow them to score first, there will be problem for the Buccaneers.
I have covered more than 100 Soweto derbies and to be honest this one is unique.
It is unique in the sense that the two teams go into this match in scintillating form as they usually meet in contrasting form.
While I anticipate a thrilling final, I still don't think the match will produce the thrills as both sides are likely to plod cautiously based on their current impressive form.
They are probably aware that any slip-up could be costly.
Granted, Chiefs have had a perfect start to the season after winning nine games in all competitions, but they know that they will face a real test of character against their arch-rivals.
I anticipate an exciting duel between Mandla Masango of Chiefs and Pirates' Thabo Matlaba and this could be where the tie could be won or lost.
Against Matlaba, Masango will face a very tricky and mobile left-back who is dangerous going forward.
Matlaba is not afraid to take opponents head-on and his crosses will come in handy for the likes of Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro. He can also score goals.
The Chiefs winger will also need to be tricky enough going into Matlaba's territory because Matlaba will surely not allow Masango and company to do as they please in his corner.
So it will require a lot of trickery from whoever invades Matlaba's territory.
While Erasmus poses serious threats to Chiefs' ambitions, the in-form Pirates striker could well be frustrated by Tefu Mashamaite.
Mashamaite is a very intelligent defender and he can be a handful for Erasmus if he follows the instructions to the letter.
Like I said earlier this match is bound to be enthralling and I hope the players of both teams have done their homework.