Orlando Pirates’ preseason preparations have reached a successful conclusion, as they faced off against fellow DStv Premiership contenders, SuperSport United and Moroka Swallows, in two thrilling friendly encounters which took place at the iconic Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
In the first match, Pirates squared off against Matsatsantsa. The game proved to be a tense and action-packed affair, with both teams taking the match to the other with much determination and intensity. The hosts showcased their attacking prowess, creating numerous opportunities to secure victory, however, despite their relentless efforts, the match ultimately concluded in a goalless draw after a competitive 90 minutes of play.
The second encounter, against Moroka Swallows, witnessed a more clinical and dominant performance from Buccaneers.
The team’s determination to end the preseason on a high note was evident, as they unleashed an impressive display of football. The Mighty Buccaneers emerged victorious with a commanding 3-1 scoreline, with goals coming courtesy of Kabelo Dlamini, who netted a brace, and the young Relebohile Ratomo netting, what was his second goal of the preseason.
The match against the Dube Birds, brings the 2023/24 preseason schedule to a close. Orlando Pirates engaged in a total of seven friendly matches, providing head coach Jose Riveiro and his technical team, valuable opportunities to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the start of the new season.
With these games now behind them, Orlando Pirates is primed and ready for the commencement of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign which kicks off with a tough away encounter against Stellenbosch FC on August 5.
Preseason Results (Scorers)
Orlando Pirates 3-1 Pretoria Callies (Lorch, Ratomo, Makgopa)
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-1 Orlando Pirates (Maswanganyi)
Independiente del Valle 1-3 Orlando Pirates (Marou, Maswanganyi, Makaringe)
UD Las Palmas 0-0 Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates 4-2 TS Galaxy (Monyane, Maswanganyi, Makaringe, Eva Nga)
Orlando Pirates 0-0 SuperSport United
Orlando Pirates 3-1 Moroka Swallows (Dlamini x 2, Ratomo)