Modiba Sees Sundowns' Edge Over Polokwane City in MTN8 Quarter-Final

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba has articulated a belief that his side possesses a "slight advantage" over Polokwane City as they prepare for their MTN8Competition·MTN8 quarter-final clash this Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Lucas Moripe Stadium. This confidence stems from Polokwane City having already commenced their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign, providing Sundowns with an opportunity for tactical analysis.

Modiba highlighted that Polokwane City's recent competitive outing allows Sundowns to scrutinize their strengths and weaknesses. "They have a new coach and have brought in new players. That game will help us analyse their strengths and weaknesses going into the match," Modiba stated. He further elaborated on the tactical edge, adding, "The advantage for us is that they don't know a lot about us this season."

Mamelodi Sundowns concluded their 2025/26 season on a high note, securing the CAF Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League title by defeating AS FARTeam·AS FAR of Morocco 2-1 on aggregate. This continental triumph marked a significant achievement for the club. Despite their success on the African stage, the Brazilians are yet to kick off their domestic season, with their scheduled Betway Premiership opener postponed following the tragic death of midfielder Jayden AdamsPlayer·Jayden Adams. The team did, however, undergo a pre-season training camp in Austria, which included a dominant 7-0 victory over Qatari side Al-SailiyaTeam·Al-Sailiya.

In contrast, Polokwane City has already begun their 2026/27 Betway Premiership season, securing a 2-1 away victory against Richards Bay on August 2, 2026. Their performance in the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League saw them finish in seventh position with 40 points, a notable achievement for a team that was recently promoted from the National First Division.

Modiba acknowledged the mental adjustment required after their league opener was postponed. "Mentally we were prepared to play on August 1. I think everyone would have loved to play, and we don't want to fall behind because teams are collecting points. We don't want to play catch-up games," he explained.

Despite their recent continental success, Sundowns are acutely focused on re-establishing their dominance in local cup competitions. "We really want to go back to winning local tournaments. Obviously, winning the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League adds a little bit of that because you always want to celebrate," Modiba affirmed. He also stressed the importance of not underestimating their opponents, stating, "We won't take Polokwane City for granted because we know that cup competitions are different."

The MTN8Competition·MTN8 represents a significant opportunity for Sundowns to end a four-year drought in domestic cup competitions. "We are aware of not being able to win local competitions. Hopefully, we can win the MTN8Competition·MTN8. We know it is not going to be easy. Pirates have won it four times in a row, and it shows they take it seriously," Modiba concluded, emphasizing the immediate challenge: "But first hurdle, Polokwane City, which we have to overcome." The upcoming quarter-final is poised to be a compelling encounter as Sundowns aim to translate their continental form into domestic silverware.