Would you believe it? Central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi scored a scorcher of a goal from way outside the area to save Orlando Pirates blushes as they booked a place in the quarterfinals of the Carling Knockout Cup at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

While the Carling Knockout has eluded Orlando Pirates in previous years, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is unfazed by their poor record in this competition, promising they will give it their all as they host Siwelele in the first round on Saturday (Orlando Stadium, 3pm).

TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic says they need to bounce back from their Betway Premiership defeat against Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night at Orlando Stadium with a win over Orbit College in the Carling Knockout last 16 match at Olympia Park on Saturday.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has called for humility amid the club's recent blistering form, particularly their humiliation of Lesotho side Lioli.

Orlando Pirates have progressed to the second round of the Caf Champions League preliminary round after they eliminated Lioli FC of Lesotho 7-0 on aggregate over two legs.

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has lauded their CAF Champions League first preliminary round first leg 3-0 win over Lioli of Lesotho as a "step in the right direction" as they hope to go all the way and clinch the most prestigious club competition in African football.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is basking in his side's recent purple patch, lauding his players as "fantastic boys" after grinding what's their fourth league win of the campaign away to Siwelele on Tuesday night.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has emphasised that the team must not get carried away after thumping Lioli of Lesotho 3-0 in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg at Free State Stadium at the weekend.

Orlando Pirates’ fourth successive MTN8 title, Mamelodi Sundowns find their stride also on the agenda.

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine has lauded the character of the team for winning the MTN8 with a “new team”, highlighting their eagerness to win more cups as the season progresses.

Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has admitted that losing two MTN8 finals on the trot to Orlando Pirates was a "bitter pill to swallow", asserting they had what it takes to bounce back as they now focus on improving their standing on the log.

In the wake of delivering his first trophy as Orlando Pirates coach barely three months into the job, Abdeslam Ouaddou has emphasised that he was never worried when results weren’t forthcoming early in the season and when many people started to doubt him.The 43-year-old Ouaddou won his first cup as Pirates coach in his first attempt at the weekend, thumping Stellenbosch 3-0 in extra time in the MTN8 final at Mbombela Stadium.

Basking in well-deserved glory after helping Orlando Pirates to their fourth successive MTN8 trophy on Saturday, Tshepang Moremi, who’d never won a trophy before, has promised to deliver more silverware at Bucs.The 24-year-old, who joined Pirates from AmaZulu before the start of the season, came off the bench in the 74th minute to net a brilliant brace as Pirates thumped Stellenbosch 3-0 in extra time to lift their fourth MTN8 cup on the trot at Mbombela Stadium.

With the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch, which is a repeat of last season’s decider, taking the centre-stage at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday (6pm), Sowetan identifies three key duels that could determine the winner.