Orlando Pirates dock on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal one last time this season before facing off against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
They return to the World Cup venue for the third time this month in one last voyage before concluding the 2024/25 season at home. Betway Premiership points are again at stake in what is a clash between the league’s oldest surviving clubs.
Form Guide
Significant milestones have been pencilled in at either end heading into the fixture, with both teams set to add one more cup competition into their itinerary for the upcoming season. Usuthu’s run of two games unbeaten has handed them a solid grasp on a spot in the MTN8, and it could be carved in stone with at least a point on Saturday.
While boasting just seven points in their last five fixtures overall, they have collected more points over a similar amount of games on home soil, winning three and drawing once in their last five outings as hosts for a solid haul of 10 points. This form has spilled over to fixtures played elsewhere in Durban where they have collected away wins against provincial rivals Richards Bay and Lamontville Golden Arrows during the final stretch of their campaign.
It means that Pirates will have their work cut out for them against a stubborn AmaZulu side, but will take some confidence from their own away form as they land in the coastal city with just two points dropped in their last five games. They boast a similar return in their last five games away from home and currently enjoy a streak of four straight wins on the road.
The most recent of these was in their midweek assignment in Polokwane, where they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over SuperSport United to collect all 12 points offered in their four league visits to the Limpopo capital.
The Buccaneers now have a chance to finish with a 100% win record in another city, having previously disposed of the Natal Rich Boyz and Abafana Bes’thende in Durban. They will bring up their 20th league win of the season should they prevail, a feat they are yet to achieve in the PSL era.
Team News
Relebohile Mofokeng is again available for Pirates after sitting out the trip to Polokwane through suspension. The visitors will however travel to Durban without fullback Bandile Shandu as he serves a one-match ban after he cautioned in midweek.
There is a similar scenario in the other camp, with ex-Bucs defender Mbongeni Gumede set to close out the season on the sidelines after he was red-carded from the bench during the victory over Arrows. Usuthu will however be boosted by the return of midfielder Rowan Human who was suspended during their stalemate against Polokwane City.
Key Players
Simphiwe Selepe (Orlando Pirates): Part of the Buccaneers’ impressive youth brigade, the 20-year-old has seamlessly slotted into a demanding role in the middle of the park and has not looked out of place at senior level. Selepe has racked up valuable minutes a month into his senior career, while catching the eye with his defensive ability plus vision on attack.
Tshepang Moremi (AmaZulu): Moremi has been Usuthu’s main creative outlet and breakout star with 11 goal contributions in 30 games across competitions. The left-footed winger has displayed equal ability at either flank, giving an element of unpredictability to his side’s attack.
Head-to-Head
Pirates’ ongoing run of two consecutive victories over AmaZulu is their longest in this fixture since winning six in a row in a successful period ending in August 2006. Despite often ending on the losing side, Usuthu have managed to deny the Buccaneers a dominant spell reminiscent of the early days of the PSL era as they have kept their losing runs to a minimum for the best past of the last two decades.
Having just secured back-to-back triumphs in Premiership fixtures between the two sides for the first time in a long while, the Soweto Giants are eyeing a league double following their 2-1 win in the reverse fixture.
For the Durbanites, the clash on Saturday presents another opportunity to chase an elusive win against the Buccaneers whose last defeat dates back to their season-opener in the 2013/14 campaign. Results have since favoured Pirates, with at least one point earned in 18 league matches where nine have finished with a maximum-points haul.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 15:00, with the game set to be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across all Orlando Pirates social media channels.
