Tuesday, October 16th, Orlando Pirates travel to Peter Mokaba Stadium to face Sekhukhune United in a DStv Premiership match.
The Soweto Giants, who were in action over the weekend against Mamelodi Sundowns in an MTN 8 semifinal match at home, will return to league play against a team that has not played since mid-September.
Form Guide
Saturday’s contest at Orlando Stadium resulted in a scoreless draw, with the second leg of the tie scheduled for later this month in Polokwane.
In their last seven games in all competitions, they have won four and drawn two, with only a loss on the road against Maritzburg marring their record.
The Buccaneers, who are now in second place in the rankings, will prioritize closing the five-point deficit between themselves and the Sundowns, who are currently in first place.
The position is far more dire for the hosts, who are in 15th place in the league after claiming just one victory in eight matches.
Sekhukhune are winless in their previous six matches, accumulating just three points from three losses and four draws.
Babina Noko have accumulated a total of seven points in the league and will be desperate for a victory that may propel them as high as tenth place.
Team Updates
The hosts will be missing defender Tresor Yamba, who is currently serving a two-match suspension for receiving a red card during his team’s 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch in their previous match.
Pogiso Mahlangu is eligible for selection after missing out the last two games due to his own red-card suspension.
There are also concerns about center midfielder Sammy Seabi, who did not play against Stellenbosch after leaving the previous match against Cape Town City with an injury.
With only two days of rest between matches, Pirates could make a lot of changes to their matchday squad, and players like Thabiso Monyane and Vincent Pule, who came off the bench on their comeback from injury, will be vying for starting positions.
Olisa Ndah will miss the match due to his accumulation of yellow cards; Tapelo Xoki will likely start in his place.
Key figures
Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates): A self-assured striker is essential to any team’s success, and Lepasa has demonstrated this trait in abundance over the past few weeks. Fresh off a call-up to the national team, the 25-year-old possesses the mobility to worry any defense and is an expert at making dangerous runs that put him in scoring positions.
Linda Mntambo (Sekhukhune United): The Sekhukhune captain has extensive intimate knowledge of the opposition, which may be vital to a team’s strategy, having spent four seasons wearing the renowned black and white. However, Mntambo’s worth extends beyond what he can add to team discussions, and his creative presence in midfield can cause issues for the Buccaneers on the day in question.
Head-to-Head
Pirates will be trying to maintain their unblemished record against Sekhukhune, a foe they have only faced twice before.
Linda Mntambo and Kabelo Dlamini scored for the Buccaneers in their come-from-behind victory at Orlando Stadium last season.
The following meeting between the two teams resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Soweto Giants, thanks to a late goal by Fortune Makaringe.
How to Stream the Orlando Pirates vs. Sekhukhune United Match
The match will be aired live on SuperSport PSL beginning at 17:00. Tickets for the contest are available at Computicket locations.
You may also follow the action by monitoring the social media outlets of the Orlando Pirates for live updates.