Orlando Pirates' title hopes to be dented TONIGHT?

11 Views

Three crucial points in the Betway Premiership will once again be on the line on Wednesday, 30 April as Orlando Pirates prepare to host Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium.

The Buccaneers return to league football following nearly a month-long period of cup commitments within and beyond South African shores.

They square up against a battle-ready outfit that has worked its way up the standings while Orlando Pirates’ attention was focused elsewhere.

Form guide

The fixture arrives with just five points separating the two sides in second and third place, with the Soweto giants higher up in the standings with four games in hand.

They will need to put the disappointment of their last outing behind them, having exited the CAF Champions League in the last four due to a 3-2 defeat away to Pyramids last Friday.

That result in Cairo not only ended hopes of a second continental triumph, but also an unbeaten run that began in early March, consisting of five victories and three stalemates.

A win on Wednesday will go some way in putting that particular low moment behind them as it keeps them in the race for league honours after finding themselves nine points behind the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns having played two fewer fixtures.

The Buccaneers now bid for another maximum points haul while still boasting an impressive home record in the league.

They have claimed 27 out of an available 30 points in Soweto, averaging 2.3 goals per match and only failing to find the net in a rare defeat against Stellenbosch FC.

An equally key aspect of their dominance on home turf has been their efficiency at the other end of the pitch, where they have only let in six goals in 10 matches.

While this could provide some much-needed confidence heading into the clash, they will no doubt be wary of the threat posed by a Sekhukhune United side that has proven more than capable of grinding out results away from home.

Babina Noko are unbeaten in their last three league games on the road, seeing off Marumo Gallants and Cape Town City FC before picking up an important point away to TS Galaxy.

Their recent run has contributed to a tally of 10 points in their last five games away from home, propelling them to within a fair shot of a return to continental cup competition with participation in the Champions League within sight .

Another three points at Orlando Stadium will keep that dream alive, while complicating things for the hosts who are one of just two teams in the league with any chance of claiming top honours.

Team news

The visitors have been boosted by the availability of midfielder Khulekani Shezi in the lead-up to the clash.

The 24-year-old is back in contention for a spot in the match day squad after sitting out Sekhukhune’s last two fixtures through suspension brought on by a red card earned halfway through their victory over Cape Town City.

Babina Noko could however miss the services of midfielder Vusimuzi Mncube, who is yet to feature since being stretchered off 11 minutes into the clash in Cape Town.

For the Buccaneers, there are no immediate suspension worries with heading into the fixture.

The likes of Thabiso Monyane and Olisa Ndah meanwhile continue on their road to recovery after sustaining knocks in the past few weeks.

Key players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): Fresh off adding one more goal to his tally, Mofokeng is one of the in-form attackers at coach Jose Riveiro’s disposal. The 20-year-old sits on 11 goals and 13 assists across competitions this season, underlying his ever-growing influence up front.

Sipho Mbule (Sekhukhune United): Possessing all the ball skills and physicality required to command things in the centre of the park, the 27-year-old has been a key addition to the Sekhukhune line-up this season. Mbule has operated in various positions in the midfield, chipping in with 10 goal contributions in all competitions.

Head-to-head

Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United have served up some intriguing affairs in what is still a young rivalry consisting of just eight league fixtures and two clashes in cup competition.

It is the Buccaneers who hold a proud record in the fixture, winning five of their encounters in the league while losing twice and playing to a single stalemate.

Both defeats have been away from home, and a one-all draw in May 2023 remains the only instance where the Soweto giants have been unable to bag all three points on home soil.

Orlando Stadium was also the scene of their biggest victory against the Limpopo-based outfit – a 5-0 routing in the opening round of the 2023/24 MTN8.

However, winning margins have been on the slim side throughout the league rivalry between the two sides with Babina Noko managing to keep the Buccaneers scoreless just once in their eight matches.

Orlando Pirates have kept twice as many clean sheets, but are still yet to win by more than a single goal since first encountering Sekhukhune United in the early part of the 2021/22 season.

TV coverage and ticket info

Kick-off is at 19:30 with the fixture televised live on SuperSport PSL.

Tickets are available for sale online on OpenTickets while physical tickets can be purchased at various Shoprite, Checkers, and USave outlets nationwide.