Orlando Pirates are preparing for an unusual Friday night match at Orlando Stadium against Maritzburg United, which will be their next DStv Premiership assignment.
The two teams recommence league play this weekend after a brief vacation during which cup competition dominated the previous week.
Form Guide
After being eliminated from the Nedbank Cup in the Round of 32 following their weekend loss to Kaizer Chiefs at home, the visitors are focusing all of their efforts on staying in the top division.
It was their third consecutive loss, a stunning reversal of fortune after beginning the season with three consecutive victories.
Maritzburg, who are currently in 15th place on the table, travel to Orlando Stadium in pursuit of a victory that might lift them out of the relegation zone. However, they will have to contend with an in-form Pirates side in their own home.
The Buccaneers’ recent 2-0 victory over All Stars secured their advancement to the next round of the Nedbank Cup.
The victory was their fourth in their previous five games across all competitions, with their last home league game being their lone loss during this span.
With a position in European competition within sight, the Buccaneers only need a solid finish to the season, and they will be vying for three crucial points on Friday amongst a difficult slate of games leading up to the final stretch of their league season.
Team Updates
Head Coach José Riveiro, a crucial component of the Pirates’ technical staff, will be forced to watch from the stands after receiving a red card against All Stars.
He will serve his ban alongside Maritzburg midfielder Travis Graham, who was also sent off during the Chiefs loss.
Injuries are a cause for concern, especially for the Buccaneers, who were forced to make a substitution in the fifth minute of their last game because to Goodman Mosele’s injury. The midfielder is now in a battle against time to recover in time for Friday’s match.
Important figures
Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates): Coming off another Man of the Match performance, Saleng has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the Bucs across all competitions. He will be one of the players to monitor prior to kickoff. The 24-year-old is not only a goal danger but also a provider, especially from dead-ball situations, where his deft distribution from set pieces has given the Soweto Giants a new dimension offensively.
Amadou Soukona (Maritzburg United): The former France youth international has played a key role in each of Maritzburg’s victories, and will likely serve as the primary attacking focal point for his team once more in Soweto. Soukona has been most effective when operating as a centre-forward for the Team of Choice, where he now tops the team’s goal-scoring charts. Soukona was first played in the midfield at the beginning of the season.
Head-to-Head
The Buccaneers will look to revenge their 1-0 loss at Harry Gwala Stadium earlier in the season, when Soukona scored a late penalty kick to give the Team of Choice the victory.
The loss was the Soweto Giants’ first in six years versus the men in blue, snapping their 11-game unbeaten streak in this matchup, in which they had prevailed seven times.
In the last 29 matches between these two clubs, the Pirates have dominated by a wide margin, winning 15 and losing only six times.
How to Watch the Orlando Pirates vs. the Maritzburg United Game
The game will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and live updates will be provided on all of Orlando Pirates’ social media channels.
Four hours prior to kickoff, tickets are still available online at TicketPro and select retail stores, as well as at the Orlando East Community Center.
»Preview of the DStv Premiership: Maritzburg United«