An old foe awaits Orlando Pirates in their next DStv Premiership fixture as they welcome Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows to Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
After nearly a weeklong break from league football, another edition of the Original Derby headlines midweek league action with the oldest rivals in the South African game doing battle for the first time this season.
Form Guide
It’s the second Soweto Derby of the campaign for each side, with Swallows heading to Orlando Stadium after defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in their last outing – their first loss in six league matches.
The result halted what was a productive run of results for the Birds, who had managed to pick up a decent tally of 11 points in the five games played prior.
With their unbeaten run brought to an end, they have since dropped from fifth to sixth place in the standings but a win on Tuesday could see them swap places with Golden Arrows, who are currently placed a spot above them.
Swallows will however have to go through a Pirates side unbeaten in their last three matches, with seven out of a possible nine points claimed.
This is after the Buccaneers dropped two points on the road on their visit to Richards Bay, where their match at King Zwelithini Stadium finished scoreless. The stalemate followed back-to-back 1-0 wins against each of Sekhukhune United and Chiefs, a run of results that saw them briefly enter the top half of the table.
With two wins and as many draws in their last five games, the Soweto Giants are currently ninth on the log and will be eager to add three more points by reigning supreme in yet another derby.
Team News
Coach Jose Riveiro will not be able to call upon the services of midfielder Thabang Monare, who is suspended for the clash after picking up a red card over the weekend.
There have however been some positive developments on the injury front, with the likes of Makhehlene Makhaula who recently resumed training after a brief spell in the sidelines while Innocent Maela and Sipho Chaine are among those nearly full recovery.
For Swallows, an opportunity could present itself for experienced players such as Tlakusani Mthethwa and Junaid Sait, who have both been absent from the starting XI over the past few weeks.
Key Players
Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): Hotto remains a tireless presence on the left, where he has contributed immensely on both defence and attack. The 33-year-old possesses an extra yard of pace, which aids in stretching the opposition’s defence through his trademark overlapping runs.
Lindokuhle Mtshali (Moroka Swallows): The 25-year-old has grown in his game since joining Swallows from Golden Arrows early last season, and has quickly become one of the club’s most consistent performers. While able to seamlessly slot into several other positions on attack, Mtshali has mainly been used on the left wing where his pin-point delivery into the box has produced many goal-scoring opportunities this season.
Head-to-Head
The Buccaneers completed the double over the Birds last season, winning 1-0 at Orlando Stadium before posting an emphatic 4-1 victory on the road later in the campaign.
This stretched their unbeaten record in the Original Derby to seven league games, with their last defeat in the fixture dating back to August 2014.
Since Swallows’ return to the top flight in 2020, the two sides have met six times with Pirates winning half the matches while the remaining three have ended with nothing to separate the two sides.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Moroka Swallows
The game kicks off at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. You can stay in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.
Tickets to attend the game are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.