Orlando Pirates’ attention turns to the Nedbank Cup this weekend as they prepare for their Round of 16 clash against ABC Motsepe Championship outfit Baroka. They return to the famous turf of Orlando Stadium for the do-or-die clash which gets underway on Saturday afternoon.
In the Buccaneers’ first home Nedbank Cup fixture since encountering Hungry Lions at a similar stage en route to their second straight title, they face a potential banana peel from another side from the second tier. This time around, they are up against a side whose giant- killing feats in the competition are well-documented.
Form Guide
Surprise semifinalists in 2011, Baroka have had one more hurdle to conquer on their way to this stage of the competition. Their two cup fixtures thus far were away from home, but they were undeterred in going past Championship rivals Casric Stars in the preliminary round before brushing off the challenge of third tier outfit Umvoti in the Round of 32.
In doing so, they have netted an impressive five unanswered goals. There has however been a notable disparity in how they fared in the league compared to their form in knockout football. The result against Umvoti stands out as their only win in their five most recent fixtures across competitions while drawing on three occasions.
Their one defeat during this period was a heavy one, and it came at the hands of Venda Football Academy who recorded a 5-1 win at home. After fighting back to claim a point in dramatic style against the University of Pretoria, Bakgaga are winless in their last two matches and are placed eighth in the Championship standings.
They now set their sights on a wounded Bucs side who remain in second place in the top flight, despite falling on the undesired side of a 4-1 scoreline on the road in their last league fixture.
The defending Nedbank Cup champions will nonetheless relish their return to the familiar comforts of Orlando Stadium where they last played in early January, hosting Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League.
Their month-long exile from the iconic turf included a successful home outing against fellow Sowetans Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium after back-to-back away wins against Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Richards Bay, respectively.
The 3-1 win against the Natal Rich Boyz was their ticket to the last 16 of the national cup and one of five straight victories collected before their slip-up in Tshwane. Still, in pursuit of three consecutive triumphs in the prestigious competition, the Soweto Giants will be wary of the threat posed by the Limpopo outfit boasting a decent collection of upsets in cup football.
Team News
Bucs defender Thabiso Sesane will likely miss out once more following an injury sustained during Pirates’ victory against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane last week.
However, the hosts could be bolstered by the return of midfielder Thalente Mbatha, whose foot injury ruled him out of the trip to the country’s capital over the weekend. For their visitors, the most significant change heading into the fixture is among the technical personnel.
Assistant coach Foster Hlongwane takes over the reins on an interim basis, replacing Joel Masutha who departed the club after a brief spell.
Key Players
Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): The Namibian international heads into this fixture as one of the form players in the Bucs setup with two goals and an assist in each of his last two appearances. A menace on either side of the pitch in both attack and defence, Hotto’s unwavering commitment has the ability to elevate team performance and will be crucial in another must-win fixture.
David Mothipi (Baroka): Unveiled as a new Baroka signing at the start of the ongoing season, the attacker has been an instant hit in his new club colours. Equally comfortable in a central role as well as out wide, Mothipi’s eye for goal has been key all season and he currently sits on seven goals across competitions for Bakgaga.
Head-to-Head
Pirates will be encountering Baroka for the first time since the two sides produced back-to- back goalless stalemates in the 2021/22 stalemates, the season where the team in green dropped down to the second tier of South African football. It has been well over six years since their epic marathon cup final, which finished 2-2 after extra time with Bakgaga edging it in the subsequent penalty shootout.
That remains their only competitive clash outside the league, where the Buccaneers have won each of the three games that have produced a winner. All but one of these previous fixtures have been tight affairs, with the Soweto Giants’ only comfortable win against the Limpopo outfit dating back to January 2018 when they raced to a three-goal lead – courtesy of a brace from Luvuyo Memela and a Musa Nyatama strike – before securing a 3-1 victory.
TV Guide and Ticket Info
The game kicks off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media channels.
Tickets to attend the match are available for purchase online at TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.
