Match-Day Report
Orlando Pirates are on the coast this evening, Wednesday, 5 March 2025, for their next Betway Premiership clash as they gear up to face Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
It’s the second game in an arduous spell away from home for the Buccaneers, who have further trips to Limpopo and the Western Cape ahead of their next home fixture. They travelled to Gqeberha following a rare trip to Bloemfontein and square off against a side back on home turf after kicking the new month off on the road.
Form Guide
Neither side could secure a win in their respective outings over the weekend, but it’s the Chilli Boys who head into the midweek encounter the happier of the two. This is after collecting a valuable point on their road through a goalless stalemate against Richards Bay.
Victory would have been ideal however, as they have now collected a single point out of a possible six in their last two games, and the recent turn of results has seen them remain locked in a spot just below the top half of the table in ninth place.
It’s a position Chippa will be eager to improve, with their league campaign approaching its final stretch. They have so far played 18 matches in the Premiership with half of those taking place on home soil where they have bagged four of their six wins this season, collecting 14 points in the process.
The feeling of triumph in front of their home crowd has somewhat faded for Thabo September’s men, as they welcome the Buccaneers three months since they last emerged victorious in their own backyard. They have gone on to claim one point in their three home games since, but might fancy their chances to turn the tide against a side that has frequently stumbled on the road in recent weeks.
Despite maintaining a place near the summit, the Buccaneers’ recent dip in form has made them a distant second in the standings. They fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Marumo Gallants on Saturday, their third away defeat this season. This trio of losses has occurred over a span of just a little under two months, where they could only spare their blushes with three points collected on a successful trip to Sekhukhune United.
With nine points in their last five matches overall, the Soweto Giants remain a formidable competitor and will be determined to take full advantage of their Eastern Cape side’s recent struggles in their own patch as they go on a quest to turn the tide.
Team News
Bucs coach Jose Riveiro will be a significant addition to the technical team as he returns after sitting out the previous game. He could not be part of the fixture against Gallants as he was serving a one-match ban.
The visitors have however been dealt another suspension blow with goalkeeper Sipho Chaine forced to sit out the trip to Gqeberha after picking up a yellow-card suspension. His place between the sticks is likely to be taken by Melusi Buthelezi, while Siyabonga Dladla is another capable option.
For Pirates’ hosts, the fixture is another outing without Aphelele Teto, who remains with the South Africa squad that is soon to depart for the weekend’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Egypt.
Key Players
Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): Tough moments require experienced heads and the veteran winger is one player that can be counted on in such. The 34-year-old’s adaptability makes him a valuable asset to the team, affording the Buccaneers some tactical flexibility throughout the 90 minutes.
Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Chippa United): In only his second season in the top flight, the 25-year-old has quickly established himself as an important player for the Chilli Boys. Kwayiba’s versatility means he can operate both centrally and out wide, and is currently his side’s leading goal scorer with seven goals across competitions this season.
Head-to-Head
Piratesgo into the midweek fixture looking to complete a league double over the home side, following their 2-1 win in their season opener at Orlando Stadium. It’s a feat that has eluded them in recent years in this particular fixture as they last achieved it in the 2020/21 season when they claimed a narrow 1-0 win at home before netting three unanswered goals for a convincing victory in Gqeberha.
They still boast a dominant league record in the fixture nonetheless, having won 16 of their 23 league clashes with Chippa, drawing three and only losing four times. An impressive seven of the Buccaneers’ wins have come away from home with the Chilli Boys currently on two home wins, the last of which dates back to the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2015/16 league campaign.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 19:30 and the match will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
Tickets to attend the match are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.
