Golden Arrows defender Wayde Jooste expects the MTN8 to be filled with upsets and surprises this season, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

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The Abafana Bes’thende players reported back for pre-season on Wednesday as they continue their preparations for the upcoming Absa Premiership season and MTN8 competition.

Arrows begin their quest for silverware against Mamelodi Sundowns, who they will meet in the quarter-final of the MTN8 in early August.

Should Ajax Cape Town be successful in their bid to regain their PSL status, then Abafana Bes’thende will move up to seventh in the league and face Orlando Pirates instead.

Clinton Larsen guided his side to a club record eighth place finish in the league standings while successfully qualifying for the top eight tournament for the second consecutive season and Jooste strongly believes his side are strong contenders to claim the first piece of silverware on offer in the new season.

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‘All the teams in the top eight have a good chance of winning the MTN8,’ Jooste told FourFourTwoSA.

‘There is always upsets and surprises and if you look at last season when we went 2-0 up against [Bidvest] Wits, we threw the game away.

‘For me, the MTN8 is the quickest tournament to the final after you win your first game, you are in the semi-final already. So if you win three games then you in a final.

‘I think we have a very good chance of winning the top eight and like I said we only have to win three games to reach the final. In the final you can’t really say there are any ‘underdogs’ and ‘favourites’ because the players tend to give it their all in the final,’ he concluded.

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Golden Arrows are scheduled to take on rivals Maritzburg United in the Premier’s Cup quarter-final at the Princess Magogo Stadium on 28 July.

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix