DStv Premiership Preview: AmaZulu
13 October, 2022
Orlando Stadium hosts a rare Friday night fixture this week as Orlando Pirates welcome AmaZulu for a DStv Premiership encounter.
It’s a meeting between the two oldest clubs in the league, who head into the clash searching for some consistency a third of the way through the season, following a bit of an indifferent start from both camps.
Form Guide
The Buccaneers have dropped down to fifth in the standings after a winless run of two league matches where they have lost one and recorded a stalemate in the other, failing to find the back of the net in each.
They have collected seven points in their last five games, courtesy of two victories and a draw, while two of their outings in this period ended in defeat.
The Soweto Giants will be particularly looking to rediscover their scoring boots, as they have gone three matches in all competitions without bursting the net.
While Pirates’ recent form is far from ideal, things have looked a little more grim at the coast, with AmaZulu currently on a three-match losing streak in the league, with no wins in their last six games across competitions, where they have only avoided defeat via two stalemates against Kaizer Chiefs.
In spite of their bright start to the campaign, AmaZulu are now in the bottom half of the table in ninth place, and will be looking to turn their fortunes around on their visit to Soweto.
Team News
Pirates will still be without the services of the suspended Thabiso Monyane, who sits out the last game in his two-match ban after picking up a red card during the recent defeat to Sekhukhune.
While the wing-back remains sidelined, the Soweto Giants will welcome back goalkeeper Richard Ofori, who has served out a one-match suspension due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
Usuthu have some changes of their own going into the fixture, most notably in the dugout where Romain Folz will be taking charge of the Durbanites for the first time, following his unveiling earlier in the week.
The Frenchman will be squaring off against the Buccaneers for the second time in as many months, having been at the helm at Marumo Gallants, who went down 1-0 in a league fixture at Orlando Stadium back in August.
He will however be without the services of ex-Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango, who remains suspended since getting his marching orders in the 1-1 draw against Chiefs in the MTN 8 semis.
Key Players
Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates): Defence wins you matches, and the Nigerian international has been a revelation since arriving on South African shores before the start of the previous season. Ndah is known as a calm presence at the back for the Buccaneers, where he has nullified many a threat, but an underrated part of his game is his ability to initiate attacks straight from a defensive situation through his accurate long passes that can stretch defences, creating an advantage for Bucs attackers.
Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu): The Buccaneers will be looking to fire from all cylinders as they hope to end their goal drought, and the experienced shot-stopper will be crucial to the visitors’ cause on the night. The 31-year-old does not only provide a solid last line of defence, but also provides some vital leadership to the team.
Head-to-Head
A quick brace from Kwame Peprah handed Pirates a come-from-behind win the last time they hosted AmaZulu, as they registered a 2-1 victory to total four points against the Durbanites, following a 1-1 stalemate earlier in the season.
Those two results stretched the Buccaneers’ long unbeaten run over Usuthu to an impressive 13 games, where they have won six and drawn seven.
Hence, it is no surprise that the Soweto Giants boast an overwhelming upper hand in terms of head-to-head results against the men in green, with 14 wins and just three defeats in their last 32 encounter, the majority of which have come at home, where they have won 10 out of 16, losing just once.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs AmaZulu
The game is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across Orlando Pirates social media platforms throughout the duration of the game.
Tickets for the game are available online on Ticketmaster plus Computicket outlets across the country, as well as at the Orlando East Community Hall on match day four hours before kick-off.
Please note that printed copies of Ticketmaster tickets, along with screenshots, will not be accepted.
