Orlando Pirates head to Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday for their first away game of the season against Stellenbosch in the DStv Premiership.
It’s a new challenge for Jose Riveiro’s men, who face one of last season’s after a good first league game at Orlando Stadium over the weekend.
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The Buccaneers are one of four clubs to have picked up all four points in the first weekend of the season, and they face a Stellies side who started the season in a dismal way, drawing 0-0 with Marumo Gallants.
For Pirates, it will be a question of trying to build on a strong performance against Soweto rivals Swallows on Saturday, while also attempting to be more clinical in front of goal after scoring just one in their season opener.
As a consequence, the Buccaneers are now third in the rankings, level on points with fourth-placed Royal AM.
Their opponents will be anxious for their first victory of the season after picking up a point on the road, and they will be looking to move up from 11th position in the rankings.
Stellenbosch are also one of numerous teams still to add to their count under the “goals” column, after a weekend of scant scoring opportunities throughout the league.
Team Updates
Stellies were without Venezeulan midfielder Juan Carlos Otiz in their goalless draw with Gallants, as the player is still recuperating from a knee injury sustained at the close of the previous season. The 28-year-old is expected to be out on Wednesday.
Coach Steve Barker might give debuts to Congolese international William Likuta, who joined the club before the start of the new season.
With such a short turnaround between games, the Pirates’ technical staff might shuffle the group for their midweek assignment in order to keep some legs fresh for what is a crowded fixture schedule.
Players like Olisah Ndah, Kwame Peprah, and Bandile Shandu sat out Saturday’s victory against Swallows and might play on Wednesday night, while Miguel Timm and Evidence Makgopa will be looking to make their Bucs debuts.
Important Players
Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): The Namibian international seemed to like facing Stellenbosch, against whom he scored three goals last season. Hotto’s danger comes not just from open play, when he generates and finishes opportunities, but also from set-pieces, where his trusted left foot can produce magic from near-impossible angles.
Stellenbosch FC’s Junior Mendieta: After saying goodbye to a number of their players throughout the winter, Stellenbosch will be relieved to have kept the Argentinian thus far, as he has been the pulse of his side’s attack. The 29-year-old, who can play on either flank or in the center, has made key goal contributions for the Club, and a strong performance from him in midweek might spell a busy day for the Bucs defense.
Head-to-Head
Last season, Pirates and Stellenbosch played two high-scoring games, scoring seven goals in two league matches, with the Soweto Giants scoring the majority of the goals.
The Buccaneers will remember their previous visit to Danie Craven Stadium well, when they scored three unanswered goals, with Deon Hotto scoring a brace and Collins Makgaka scoring the other. The reverse meeting at Orlando Stadium earlier in the season was a much closer encounter, with goals from Hotto and Goodman Mosele not enough to give the hosts all three points on the day, with the two sides ending on two goals each.
In the six league meetings between these two teams, the spoils have been split three times, with Pirates winning twice and suffering a solitary loss in their first ever meeting with the lads from the Cape Winelands.
How to Watch the Orlando Pirates vs. Stellenbosch Match
The game will begin at 19:30 and will be aired live on SuperSport PSL (Channel 202). Orlando Pirates will also provide live updates on its social media outlets.