With almost no preparation time, would expectations be fair to expect Mamelodi Sundowns to fight to win the MTN8, which some have often mocked as 'a pre-season tournament'?
With the MTN8 starting on the first week of August, most teams will be finetuning preparations for the lucrative competition and the start of the Betway Premiership season a week later.
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During his days at the helm at Chloorkop, Pitso Mosimane also used to refer to the MTN8 as "a pre-season tournament" as he insisted their main focus was "on the big fish".
However, the landscape has changed drastically since he left in 2020, as the Tshwane giants have become a winning machine expected to compete for every trophy on offer.
Ahead of the quarterfinal fixture against Richards Bay FC on 3 August, after a scheduled return to the green grass only on 21 July, would the expectations be fair on the side to go all the way?
"Yes, I think it would be fair because obviously they are a top team in the country, everybody would expect them to do well in the MTN8," argued ex-midfielder Brent Carelse.
"So, we'll have to see how they come back, what the energy looks like and things like that, but I definitely see them going past the first round and I'm sure they will get into the final and hopefully win it."
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That was the beginning of doubts creeping in pertaining to Manqoba Mngqithi's tenure, with a shock loss to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final the straw that broke the camel's back.
