Legendary Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has reminisced about writing MTN8 history against Kaizer Chiefs ahead of this weekend’s Wafa Wafa final between the Buccaneers and Stellenbosch FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Tickets for the season’s opening competition were sold out within hours of going on sale earlier this month. Pirates are bidding for a hat-trick of the trophy while it is Stellies’ first appearance in the Wafa Wafa final, but their second overall cup final in two seasons.
‘Phinda Mzala’ vividly remembers the 2010 final especially because that’s when Pirates ended a seven-year trophy drought, and it was their first cup victory in a decade. The 2011 final also holds good memories for the former treble winning skipper as Pirates won it back-to-back which was against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, with Lekgwathi proud of being captain on both occasions.
“Another memory was winning it back-to-back and today I’m still holding the record,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.
“Yes, Pirates have won it back-to-back again, but under different captains – [Thapelo] Xoki and [Richard] Ofori.
“The good thing, too, is that both were derbies. The first one was a Soweto derby against [Moroka] Swallows, and the second one was the derby against Kaizer Chiefs.”
The 48-year-old also recalls the drama of the encounter against Amakhosi.
“Yes, the derby against Kaizer Chiefs, which was electrifying,” added Lekgwathi.
“I remember we scored in the eighty-something minute and I remember saying, ‘Yoh, at last we scored and won it,’ but the referee pointed to a foul then we went to extra-time.
“If I recall, Oupa [Manyisa] scored a cracker.”
