Orlando Pirates Reserves continue their bid to revive their DStv Diski Challenge campaign this weekend as they go toe-to-toe with Polokwane City. They’re back home at Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark for the fixture which kicks off on Saturday morning.
It’s the Bucs Reserves’ first home fixture of the new year and an opportunity to trigger a run of consistent results as the season approaches its halfway mark. They are presented with a tricky challenge in the form of a side with a similar agenda after a tough start to the campaign.
Form Guide
Pirates kicked the year off with another disappointing result, going down 2-1 away to Mamelodi Sundowns. This made it three games without a win, having also lost to Kaizer Chiefs in a game that was preceded by a stalemate against Richards Bay.
The point earned against the Natal Rich Boyz was the Buccaneers’ fourth in their last five fixtures, with the rest coming courtesy of an away victory over defending champions Stellenbosch. It’s a turn of form that has placed them in eighth position in the standings, 11 points behind the log leaders.
Returning to the Vaal after two tough away fixtures could be just the spark needed by the Soweto Giants, who have fared slightly better at home throughout the season. They have recorded a single home defeat since kicking off their campaign but have mainly struggled to get over the line, securing just two wins while drawing their other three games.
Their next opponents are a side that has had bigger struggles on the road, last earning an away point in September last year. Polokwane come into the fixture on the back of five straight defeats as the visiting team and are 12th in the standings.
They began the new year with a goalless stalemate at home to Chippa United, ending a losing streak that had stretched to three matches. Like Pirates, they have earned just four points in their five most recent outings but could fancy their chances of bagging their first win since early November.
Head-to-Head
The visitors will take some confidence into Saturday’s match, following their success when they last encountered the young Buccaneers. This is after taking full advantage of their numerical advantage to net an injury time winner after Jabulani Mokone was sent off midway through the second half.
The reverse fixture had gone the way of the Soweto Giants, who had cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win at Rand Stadium with Ciniso Mazibuko, Mehluleli Maphumulo, and Mpumelelo Ndaba all finding the net.
Despite trading equal blows last season, it is the hosts who maintain a positive record in the fixture with four wins in the last five encounters. They also lead comfortably in the goal-scoring stakes, having scored 10 goals while only conceding twice during this period.
How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Polokwane City Reserves
The game is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 and will not be televised. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
