Following their 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 Final over the weekend, Amakhosi have now opened a gap over their biggest rivals who are in second position on nine Top 8 titles since the first ever edition of this competition, which was contested by the ‘Big Two’ in 1972.
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The country’s most popular club dominated the Top 8 when it was sponsored by BP, winning it a dozen times under the oil and gas multinational company in 1973, ’74, ’76, ’81, ’82, ’85, ’87, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’94 and 2001 before winning it once as the South African Airways title in 2006.
Following the weekend victory, Chiefs have now won the Top 8 twice under the MTN sponsorship reign after lifting it in 2008 when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties in another final that was played in Durban.
Chiefs have also joined their Soweto rivals Pirates in having won this competition twice since it fell under the mobile telecommunications banner six years ago.
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Amakhosi also remain the only club to have lifted the Top 8 under all three sponsors that have backed the competition – BP, SAA and MTN. The gold and black-kitted club has only lost in four cup finals of the Top 8.
For Pirates, since being the inaugural winners in 1972 they have also won the Top 8 in ’74, ’78, ’83, ’93, ’96, 2000, 2010 and 2011 for their list of nine Top 8 titles.
The Bucs have twice endured decade-long drought spells of not winning the Top 8, reaching the final only once in those combined 20 years.
Third place in the title rankings of this competition is shared by Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows who have won it thrice each.
Sundowns were Top 8 champs in 1988, ’90 and 2007 while the Dube Birds were victorious in 1975, ’79 and 2012.
Bidvest Wits – then known as Wits University – are the only other club to have won this competition more than once, lifting it in 1984 and in 1995 when they shocked Chiefs 2-0 in the final.
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The other clubs that have won the Top 8 are Platinum Stars (2013), Golden Arrows (2009), Bloemfontein Celtic (2005), SuperSport United (2004), Jomo Cosmos (2003), Santos (2002), Arcadia Shepherds (1986) and Witbank Black Aces (1980).
Forty finals of the Top 8 have been played since 1972.
NOTES: In January 1974, the top eight clubs from the 1973 season played; in November/December 1974, the top eight teams from the 1974 season played. The 1978 final was played in 1977. In 1975 competition was played as BP Top 16, in ’76 played as Top 32 and Top 17 in ’79.
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