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Orlando Pirates star defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has sent a warning to Mamelodi Sundowns, saying the Soweto giants want to reclaim the MTN8 trophy.
The two hugely popular sides will lock horns in a titanic clash of over two legs in the semi-finals of the Wafa Wafa Cup later this month.
Sundowns succeeded Pirates when they won the MTN8 last season, beating Cape Town City on penalties in Durban, while Pirates had won it the previous campaign, by beating Bloemfontein Celtic also in Durban.
The Soweto giants reached this season’s last four when they defeated Royal AM 2-1 last weekend in Durban, a match in which Sibisi scooped the Man of the Match.
Sundowns, on the other hand, beat SuperSport United 2-0 also last weekend in Pretoria, to set up this mouthwatering encounter.
“I think every competition Pirates play, the desire is to win it,” Sibisi told iDiski Times.
“Everyone involved in the club, I think it is important to win this cup and hopefully this will be the one.”
Sibisi will have an extra motivation after Masandawana beat Golden Arrows, Sibisi’s former club, in the semis when they won the MTN8 last season.
In addition, the 26-year-old’s last game for Arrows before joining Pirates this season was against Sundowns, a match he will soon want to forget, as the Tshwane giants thumped Abafana Bes’Thende by 6-0 in April, which led to the departure of coach Lehlohonolo Seema.
He says his adaption to Pirates has been seamlessly and he is happy to have opened his scoring already.
“Since I arrived here from day one, I felt at home,” Sibisi said.
“The guys have welcomed me well and we work as a team. Remember I was at Arrows for many years. For me it’s my first move professionally to join another team and I had to quickly adjust and see how we do things here.
“Remember it also took me time to score my first goal at Arrows and in the second game at Pirates I was able to score. It means a lot and I hope the fans are happy.”
Sibisi has quickly adjusted to life at Pirates and has played all seven matches for the club in 2022/23 thus far.