Orlando Pirates open their 2019/2020 campaign at home with a match against Bloemfontein Celtic when the ABSA Premiership season resumes on Saturday evening.
The Buccaneers head into this match at Orlando Stadium in a buoyant mood, following their dominant victory over rivals Kaizer Chiefs in last weekend’s Carling Black Label Cup, and they’ll be looking to expand on that performance by bagging all three points against Phunya Sele Sele.
It certainly won’t be plain-sailing for Micho Sredojevic’s charges, who go into this encounter looking to snap a two-game winless streak against the Free State outfit. Celtic have picked up four of the six points on offer last season, with the recently signed Bongani Sam scoring the winner for Siwelele when the two sides met in August 2018. The most recent result between the two sides was a 1-1 draw in March of 2019.
Outside of the intent to secure maximum points on the day, there is a bit more of an edge to this weekend’s match, with both sides having players crossing the football divide during the transfer window. Bongani Sam, Kabelo Dlamini and Tshegofatso Mabasa swapped green for black and could be set to face their former side on home soil, while goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane went in the opposite direction, trading Soweto for Bloemfontein at the end of last season.
Tickets for the match are still available at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets nationwide.