The domestic football season will draw to a close on Saturday with it being the season-ending Nedbank Cup final that will be played in Nelspruit.

The Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates, will be in action against the seven-time back-to-back Premier Soccer League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns and given both teams form it is set to be a cracking final.

The Buccaneers are the defending champions of the South African equivalent of the FA Cup and they will be targeting a 10th title and the attempt to narrow the game on their fellow Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs (14 titles).

In addition, they will break the record for playing in the final 19-times. Heading into the final of Saturday they are level on appearances with Chiefs.

Sundowns in turn will be targeting a domestic double by claiming the cup, while they will have their sights set on a seventh title. One of the Brazilians biggest motivations will be wanting to set the record straight after their league defeat to Cape Town City last week which denied them of an unbeaten PSL campaign.

The Buccaneers coach, Jose Riveiro, called for one last big push from his team and said maintaining the consistency will be key.

“For me, it’s a clear symptom that things are going well at Pirates as a collective,” said Riveiro.

“You don’t find yourself in four finals in a row because you have a good day.

“Now we can discuss the difference between cups and the league. It is about consistency. Still, the team is showing that we have the capacity on the day to not only beat any team.

“The cups are very complicated because now we are talking about penalties, the extra time and many scenarios of this game.”

Saturday’s final at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport