Orlando Pirates begin a demanding week on the road with a stop at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium where they will be up against Sekhukhune United. They take to the field once more on Wednesday night in another crucial Betway Premiership fixture.
There is rarely time for a breather in competitive football as the Soweto Giants continue in their punishing schedule. They are faced with two testing assignments against top-four opposition in the space of days, beginning with a bruising outing in Polokwane.
Form Guide
It comes just days after the big Soweto Derby where they edged rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a dramatic encounter at FNB Stadium, bagging three points to keep a strong position in the standings. It was their fourth win in as many matches across competitions, but a return to winning ways in the league after a narrow defeat in their previous appearance in the competition.
Babina Noko now stand between them and a second consecutive three-point haul which could go some way in plugging the six-point gap between themselves and current log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. They find themselves in second place a dozen matches into their league campaign, where they have hit double figures under the wins column.
Three of the 10 victories posted this season came in their last five outings, where they twice landed on the losing side. They have maintained a mostly good record away from home, winning three times with four unanswered goals before conceding the goal that would lead to their first defeat on the road.
Looking to reclaim their earlier form, they are now up against a Sekhukhune side that has been one of the toughest to overcome in their home patch. The Limpopo outfit has hosted seven different teams thus far this season, claiming 16 out of a possible 21 home points
They currently sit in fourth place on the log with eight points won through two wins and two draws in their five most recent fixtures. They are winless in their last two league games however, having lost to Chiefs before rallying from a goal down to rescue a point away to Stellenbosch.
Team News
The hosts go into the match missing two key players through suspension. Midfielder Relebogile Mokhuoane serves a one-match ban after picking up his fourth caution for the season against Stellenbosch while his partner in the centre of the park, Siphesihle Mkhize is ruled out due to a red-card collected in the same fixture.
The Buccaneers meanwhile emerged from the derby with no fresh suspension concerns. On the injury front, a few players are inching closer to a return to action with Goodman Mosele and Zakhele Lepasa among those that could soon feature for the first time this season.
Key Players
Makhehleni Makhaula (Orlando Pirates): The veteran midfielder not only provides experience, but also an impressive workrate and crucial leadership in the middle of the park. The 35-year-old impressed with his Man of the Match performance in the Soweto Derby, covering plenty of ground to break up play while regularly turning defence into attack in a tireless 90-minute display.
Keletso Makgalwa (Sekhukhune United): The former SA youth international has made an immediate impact since joining Babina Noko at the start of the season, delivering key contributions on a regular basis. Having started in each of Sekhukhune’s league games, Makgalwa’s accurate passing and powerful right foot make him a constant threat to the opposition.
Head-to-Head
Wednesday’s match will only be the seventh fixture between Pirates and Sekhukhune and so far, results have largely favoured the side playing at home. The Buccaneers remain the only team to emerge victorious on the road, winning 1-0 on their first league visit to Babina Noko in a game played at Ellis Park in April 2022.
They have since lost two in two since their hosts’ move to Polokwane, but do maintain an unbeaten record at Orlando Stadium which has kept them ahead in terms of overall results. Things remain tight however, with Pirates boasting three wins overall to Sekhukhune’s two with one match finishing in a stalemate.
There is nothing to separate the two teams in terms of goals scored in their previous meetings. The 12 that have gone in so far are evenly shared at six apiece, with each team finding the net four times at home while only conceding twice.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The game kicks off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport Variety 3 (208). You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.
Tickets are available online at Computicket as well as selected outlets nationwide.
