Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi insists that Orlando Pirates were not the better team the last time the two teams met in a cup final, where a last-gasp Relebohile Mofokeng strike left the Tshwane giants' fans stunned and bewildered.
Sundowns' hopes of reaching the MTN8 final are hanging by a thread after a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in the first left of the semi-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday.
READ | Mngqithi: The defeat is a wake-up call for Sundowns
Should they manage to overturn the deficit, they could face their nemesis in the final, in the form of Orlando Pirates – who escaped with a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in the first leg of their semi-final clash.
The two titans met in two cup finals last season (MTN8 and Nedbank Cup), where the Soweto giants walked out victorious on both occasions.
Addressing the media after the match against Stellies, Mngqithi said he does not believe that Bucs were the better team than them the last team the two sides met.
"I do not want to be ahead of myself, I think the most important thing is to prepare for this match [second leg]," the 53-year-old said.
"Because when we do that, we will be helping ourselves and giving ourselves the chance to get in another final.
"I do not think the final we lost against Pirates, we lost because they were a better team, to be honest. I think we committed silly errors even there.
"I wouldn't say I wouldn't want to see what would happen again in a final that would include Pirates and Sundowns, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
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Prior to the meeting against the Winelands outfit, Mngqithi also seemed to throw the gauntlet at Pirates, declaring that The Brazilians would be the first team to win the new R10 million prize money that comes with clinching the MTN8 this season.
To do that, they would have to unseat the Buccaneers, who have won the coveted trophy for two seasons running.