The 32-year-old was brought on in the dying moments of the Buccaneers’ Betway Premiership opener against the Chilli Boys. His low-key entrance placed him among a select few who have worn the badge on 200 or more occasions.

For one of the Bucs development structures’ biggest success stories, it’s another landmark in a journey that began long before he was first introduced to the wider audience – representing the First Team for the first time against Lamontville Golden Arrows in October 2017 – and a clear testament to his loyalty and dedication to the famous skull and crossbones.

Reflecting on his remarkable progression from the Academy ranks where his football story began along with that of many other hopefuls, Maela revealed that reaching this milestone far exceeded anything he had envisioned.

“When I joined the Academy, my first goal was to improve as a player as much as I can. I didn’t even think that one day I’d be playing for the first team,” he told orlandopiratesfc.com. “To get the opportunity to represent the Club so many times has been an honour to me and a privilege. I dedicate this milestone to all the players from the Academy who didn’t have the opportunity to play for the First Team. This is for them.”

Maela’s career has been littered with many key moments, from impacting iconic fixtures to repaying his teammates’ faith in him by steering the team to silverware. According to the skipper, these all rank very high in the list of his favourite memories as a Buccaneer.

“One of my favourite memories is scoring against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby,” he said. “That memory will stay with me for a very long time, and obviously becoming the Club’s captain. That was a huge milestone for me and an honour to be voted by my teammates.

”It shows the contribution that I’ve made to the Club and how they see me as a human being and as a leader.

 “So that was also one of my favourite memories, as well as lifting trophies. As a development player, it’s great when you get the opportunity to play for the First Team, and they name you as captain, then you go on and lift trophies.”

As a senior player and leader, Maela is aware of the responsibilities on his plate and is determined to give back by dedicating the current chapter of his career to contributing towards shaping the up-and-coming talent coming through at the Club.

“I think for me it’s to help the younger players as much as I can, to help my teammates when they need me, and to contribute as much as I can to the team, to the Club, and also to try and improve because we can never stop improving” Maela said. ”So what I’m hoping to achieve is to help the younger ones settle into the setup and realise their potential,” he concluded.

Following four incredible seasons and over 140 matches, our journey with the 31-year-old midfielder has come to an end.

Words cannot fully express our gratitude and appreciation for Makaringe. Throughout his time with us, he consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and discipline.

The Club will always be grateful for his contribution and wishes him nothing but the best in his future endeavours.

The victory secured the Soweto Giants a spot in the final, which will take place in Mbombela, where they will face the winner of Sunday’s semi between Stellenbosch and Mamelodi Sundowns.

In a fast-paced opening half against the Chilli Boys, the Buccaneers had an opportunity right from the first whistle as they charged forward through Relebohile Mofokeng. The teenager made an excellent run on the left flank before locating Tshegofatso Mabasa, whose close-range effort was blocked.

They remained in the hosts’ half of the pitch where Patrick Maswanganyi was brought down a few paces from the penalty area, with referee Abongile Tom duly awarding a free kick.

The set piece brought about the breakthrough just five minutes in, as Kabelo Dlamini produced a stunner of a shot which curled around the defensive wall and left goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali motionless as it went into the net.

This triggered a spirited fightback from the hosts, who had an opportunity to hit back with a set piece goal from a similar range just two minutes after.

Midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel was entrusted with the free kick, but could only send his effort off target as he landed the ball on the roof of the net.

Chippa did not take their foot off the pedal as they continued to dominate the middle part of the opening period, pinning the Buccaneers inside their own half while minimising chances at the other end.

Pirates found a rare attacking opportunity on the half-hour mark when Dlamini threaded a lovely through ball for Mabasa, who had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

Sipho Chaine’s goal was tested by ex-Bucs defender Craig Martin in the 38th minute when he went for goal from a long way out, but the shot-stopper was positioned on the perfect spot to make a comfortable save.

The visitors made it 2-0 just before the interval as Maswanganyi caught the Chippa defence flat-footed on the right side of the pitch before locating Dlamini, who calmly slotted home from close range to complete his brace.

A set piece on the stroke of halftime came close to producing the home side’s opener as defender Justice Chabalala flicked the ball towards Chaine’s near post, but the Bucs keeper had it covered as he dived low to his left to make a save.

The start of the second period saw the Buccaneers dominating possession as Mofokeng came close to providing the third when he linked up with Maswanganyi on the left before firing wide with his shot at goal.

The home side’s toil for a goal ended in the 63rd minute when striker Bienvenu Eva Nga muscled his way into the Bucs penalty area before setting up a tap-in from close range for substitute attacker Elmo Kambindu.

The goal from the Namibian international set up a dramatic close to the contest as the Chilli Boys sensed an opportunity to draw level.

It appeared as if the equaliser was not very far off until another decisive moment with just nine minutes left on the clock, brought about by a Pirates corner taken short before Maswanganyi delivered a searching ball into the box, turned in at the far post by Tapelo Xoki who bagged his third goal in this year’s competition.

Chippa had a few half-chances in the dying moments, the best of which came from Chabalala who went wide from range.

They were however unable to claw their way back into the contest as the defending champions closed out the game to book their second consecutive Nedbank Cup final.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sesame, Monyane, Hotto (Maela 18’), Makhaula, Mbatha (Timm 46’), Dlamini (Sibisi 78’), Mofokeng (Saleng 87’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa (Makgopa 78’).

The Soweto Giants put on another commanding performance on the road to clinch their first-ever league win away to the Citizens, who remain in search of their first win since December.

Heading into the fixture on the back of Sunday’s convincing win, they were kept quiet throughout the early part of their encounter with the Capetonians in a first half that produced minimal chances at both ends.

The home side had a go at the Pirates goal ten minutes in through defender Keanu Cupido, but his long-range effort failed to trouble Sipho Chaine as the Bucs shot-stopper made a comfortable save.

Chaine’s opposite number Darren Keet enjoyed a largely quiet afternoon until well into the opening period when he was called upon following a second phase attack from a corner. The Citizens keeper was drawn into a save by Tshegofatso Mabasa, who made an excellent turn towards goal before releasing a shot from close range.

The Bucs striker had another go in the 34th minute, this time from a long way out, and sent his shot drifting off target. It turned out to be the last of Pirates’ first-half chances as both sides struggled for rhythm right through the opening period.

Much of the action remained in the home side’s half of the pitch in the second half, with Pirates continuing to control matters. They were however unable to produce shots at goal until the 58th minute when Relebohile Mofokeng ran onto a lovely pass from Lesedi Kapinga before forcing Keet into a save.

The teenager would have a hand in the breakthrough just seconds later when he popped up near the halfway line before threading a perfectly weighted pass from Mabasa, who needed no second invitation to add to his goal tally as he calmly slotted home.

The hosts looked to hit back in the 71st minute with Khanyisa Mayo heading at goal from close range, but Chaine was equal to the task. Pirates responded with a chance of their own following a swift counter, which ended as Kapinga went just over the crossbar with his shot from inside the penalty area.

Just as they had broken the deadlock moments after a close call, the Buccaneers doubled their lead in the very next moment. This came via a move initiated by Thalente Mbatha, who turned possession over in the middle of the park, with Thabiso Monyane, Kabelo Dlamini, and Mofokeng all getting a touch before Mabasa notched up his 13th league goal of the season with another composed finish.

Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi could have produced a third goal in the last 10 minutes, but his effort from just in front of goal was kept out.

City launched a desperate search for a goal in the game’s dying moments, with Mayo and Jaedin Rhodes both failing to find the target, while Marc van Heerden managed to draw a save from Chaine when he went direct from a free kick.

Despite being forced to defend throughout injury time, the Buccaneers were able to hang on for another three points as they stretched their winning run in the league to four matches.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sesane (Sibisi 69’), Monyane, Hotto, Mbatha (Ndlondlo 90’), Timm, Dlamini, Mofokeng (Kimvuidi 90’), Kapinga (Otladisa 77’), Mabasa (Makgopa 77’).

In an afternoon where the Soweto Giants turned in a clinical performance away from home to come away with three important points, the new recruit featured on the scoresheet for the first time since joining the Club, with Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Kabelo Dlamini also finding the net.

Mbatha’s 56th-minute strike came at a crucial moment in the game and helped create daylight between the two sides after the Buccaneers had managed to take a one-goal to the break, following a tightly contested opening half. Mainly tasked with the often unseen work in the engine room throughout his career, he showcased a different dimension to his game in providing the game’s second goal when he made an excellent surge into the box to collect a neat pass from Maswanganyi before producing a composed finish to double the advantage.

Reflecting on his landmark moment in an exclusive interview, the 24-year-old shared his delight in getting off the mark in Bucs colours.

“It was a great feeling,” Mbatha told OrlandoPiratesFC.com. “It is actually a dream come true scoring my first goal for Orlando Pirates. I must thank the team, the staff and the technical team for the opportunity and support that they give me every day.”

Mbatha’s first Pirates goal came in his 10th appearance in all competitions since his January loan move from SuperSport United, where he had featured five times during the first half of the season. He describes the start of his Bucs career as a big learning opportunity and has noted some improvements in his game.

Having been brought in to bolster an already stacked midfield, the player revealed that he embraces the challenge of having to fight for his place in the starting team.

“It’s good competition,” Mbatha said. “It’s a good challenge and helps me stay on my feet and try to improve all the time. I cannot afford to make many mistakes. So I think the competition that we have in the team is healthy. We should all just play our game and whoever gets the opportunity must use it.”

Following their triumph in Pietermaritzburg, the Buccaneers have a busy week ahead. They kick it off with a midweek Premiership assignment away to Cape Town City before voyaging along the coast for a stop in Gqeberha for a Nedbank Cup semifinal clash against Chippa United on the weekend.

Mbatha says the team’s immediate focus is the trip to the Mother City, where they will be looking to add three more points to their league tally.

“As the coach says, we take each game as it comes,” he said. “We take it one day at a time. I think we should prepare ourselves mentally and physically. It’s not going to be an easy game as we are playing away. If we do play the football we want and do what the coach tells us, we’ll definitely come back with the three points.”

Pirates’ game against City takes place on Wednesday, kicking off at 15:00.

The Bucs medical team has revealed to Orlandopiratesfc.com that the 28 year old right back has suffered a broken collarbone, which requires surgical intervention.

The prognosis of how long Lebitso will be out for will be known post his procedure.

Just six league fixtures remain for the Buccaneers as they look for a strong finish to the campaign, with an eye on strengthening their bid for participation in continental football next season.

Form Guide

They journey to Pietermaritzburg while in third place in the standings after notching up a hard-fought three points in their last outing at home to AmaZulu. The win was their second in a row in the league, taking their points tally over the last five games to 10 thanks to three wins and a draw.

All of Pirates’ victories during this period have come on home turf, while they have managed just one point out of a possible six on the road. It’s an unwanted record they will be desperate to overturn as away fixtures currently make up half of their remaining league games.

A win on Sunday moves them back up to second place, but this could be a tricky assignment against a Royal AM side that has proven unpredictable throughout the season.

Thwihli Thwahla go into the fixture looking for a way up from 12th place, where they are currently situated after a one-all stalemate in their KZN derby clash against Lamontville Golden Arrows last Saturday.

The point earned against Abafana Bes’thende took them to seven points in their last five matches, where they have won both their home games alongside defeats away to Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy.

Their sights are now set on their game against the Buccaneers with three points placing them within touching distance of the top eight, where they will be looking to finish at the end of the season.

Team News

Changes can be expected in the Pirates team that will line up at Harry Gwalla, with three First Team players suspended for the clash.

Sipho Chaine, Deon Hotto, and Miguel Timm were among the 12 players booked in a highly physical encounter against AmaZulu. The yellow cards picked up by the trio triggered a one-match suspension for each player, ruling them out of Sunday’s game.

For Royal AM, coach John Maduka has close to a full squad to call upon while midfielder Moffat Mdluli and goalkeeper Marlon Heugh – both yet to feature this season – are likely to remain sidelined.

Key Players

Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The 27-year-old has been the form marksman in the league, and added to his goal tally with another well-taken strike against Usuthu. Clinical in front of goal with excellent movement inside the box, Mabasa is a classic goal-poacher with an uncanny ability to position himself at the right place at the right time.

Kabelo Mahlasela (Royal AM): Thwihli Thwahla will likely be led out by the Bucs Academy product, who has demonstrated his value throughout the season. Mahlasela has mainly operated in the centre of the midfield, occasionally advancing into the number 10 pocket, and has chipped in with four league assists.

Head-to-Head

Six goals were scored when the two sides last met with the Buccaneers emerging victorious in an entertaining encounter at Orlando Stadium, which finished 4-2 in their favour courtesy of a brace from Zakhele Lepasa, accompanied by goals from Monnapule Saleng and Bandile Shandu.

Pirates have met Royal AM five times in the league, winning twice, while three games have ended with a share of the spoils.

The Buccaneers are also comfortably in front regarding goals scored in the fixture after finding the net six times, while their opponents boast just three goals.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Royal AM

The game is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can also catch live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official app.

The fixture is one of two back-to-back home games for the Bucs Reserves before concluding their campaign with a visit to Polokwane City.

Form Guide

It comes after a successful outing at Lucas Moripe Stadium, where Ciniso Mazibuko netted the game’s only goal to see off a stubborn Chippa United.

The victory was only the young Buccaneers’ second win in their last five games, where they have lost twice and drawn once in what has been a long spell of indifferent form in the final third of their season.

Currently in third place with just nine points on offer in the remainder of the campaign, Saturday’s clash is a must-win for the Buccaneers in their bid for a strong finish.

They will have to contend with a ninth-place Richards Bay outfit eyeing a top-eight finish after landing in the bottom three in their debut season in the Reserve League.

The Natal Rich Boyz were held to a goalless stalemate by KZN rivals Lamontville Golden Arrows in their most recent fixture and are searching for their first win since March. They won the first two of their last five games, and have since gone on to play to two draws and a defeat.

Three points on Saturday will strengthen their chances of finishing inside the top half of the table in only their second season.

Head-to-Head

Pirates were victorious the last time the two sides met, overcoming a one-man disadvantage to claim a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Ciniso Mazibuko and Mehluleli Maphumulo.

Their rivalry with Richards Bay began last season when Njabulo Mndebele and Mpumelelo Ndaba each found the net to ensure a 2-0 home victory before playing to a goalless stalemate in the latter part of the campaign.

The Natal Rich Boyz will not only be looking for their first win over the Buccaneers on Saturday, but also their first goal, while the hosts look to become the first team to complete a league double in the fixture.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Richards Bay Reserves

Kick-off is at 10:00 and the game will not be televised. You can follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.

It was a return to winning ways for the Bucs Reserves who began the weekend in third position with just four games left in the ongoing campaign.

They enjoyed all of the game’s early opportunities, mainly attacking from the flanks where forward Ciniso Mazibuko was especially prominent on the right. The teenager was first to fire a shot at goal, drawing a save from goalkeeper Tyrique Simons who went low to his left to cover his near post. 

The resultant corner presented another opportunity as defender Mbekezile Mbokazi headed over the crossbar when he was pinpointed by Jabulani Mokone.

It remained one-way traffic throughout the opening 20 minutes with Mazibuko forcing Simons into another stop in the 17th minute after cutting inside from the right to fire at goal from outside the box.

Midfielder Tebogo Masemola could only hit the side netting with his attempt in the 29th minute, while clear-cut chances came few and far between throughout the closing third of the opening period. This was until the stroke of halftime when Mokone delivered an excellent cutback toward an unmarked Simphiwe Masilela who was unable to keep his shot down as he fired over the crossbar.

Pirates began the second half much like they started the first with striker Mehluleli Maphumulo getting a shot in just two minutes after the restart, only to be denied by Simons.

The burly Bucs forward continued to trouble the defence, but could not find a way past the Chilli Boys shot stopper who pulled off a brilliant double stop in the 51st minute to keep things level.

Chippa’s first real chance came through Thando Jacobs who shot wide when presented with a golden opportunity to put his side ahead from close range.

Pirates made the most of the let off as they took the lead just after the hour mark through Mazibuko, who finally had the better of Simons when he made an excellent run on the flank before sneaking the ball inside the near post to make it 1-0.

He remained heavily involved on attack, linking up with Masilela whose 74th minute shot was kept out by Simons, with skipper Kgwadi Molepo sending in a follow-up shot which was deflected narrowly wide of the target.

The visitors could have stolen a point deep in injury time when Sinakokonke Mthembu headed at goal from just in front, but Bucs keeper Khumoetsile Rathokolo was perfectly-positioned to make a comfortable save.

That  concluded the goalmouth action at either end as the Bucs Reserves saw out the game to complete a league double over the Eastern Cape-based side.  

Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Magugwana, Mbokazi, Mokone, Mhlambi (Mohlala 81’), Molepo, Selepe (Chibwe 77’), Masemola (Dansin 77’), Mazibuko, Masilela (Nzimande 77’), Maphumulo.

It’s an early-morning kick-off for the young Buccaneers and the Chilli Boys, who get Sunday’s festivities underway.

Form Guide 

Inconsistent results have derailed the Soweto Giants’ charge for the title at a very crucial period of their campaign and they now head to Sunday’s clash in third place, eight points behind the log-leading Stellenbosch. This is after falling to a 1-0 defeat to the team from the Cape Winelands in their most recent outing held at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium last Sunday.

It was their second defeat in their last five games, where they have only managed five points out of a possible 15 through a solitary win and two draws.

Having finished the first half of the season as the league’s best attacking team, the Bucs Reserves’ free-scoring exploits appear to be a thing of the past. They have only four goals to show for their efforts over the past five weeks, all coming from their 4-0 win against rivals Moroka Swallows.

Pirates will be looking to rediscover their scoring boots against a Chippa side enduring a rough patch of their own, with defeats in each of their last four games.

The young Chilli Boys boast a solitary point in their five most recent fixtures, which came via a one-all stalemate at home to Sekhukhune United and are currently 12th in the standings.

They will be eager to kickstart a strong finish to their campaign with an upset victory over the Buccaneers, who are also desperate to overturn their own fortunes.

Head-to-Head 

Pirates are looking to complete a league double over their Chippa counterparts, following their victory in the reverse fixture where Mbekezile Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, and Senzelumusa Sibiya each found the net in the second half to ensure a convincing 3-0 victory.

It was the Bucs Reserves’ third straight win against the Chilli Boys, whose last victory in the fixture came over two years ago when they claimed a 3-2 win in Gqeberha.

Four of the last five games between the two sides have gone the way of the Buccaneers, who have scored an impressive 12 goals while only conceding five.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Chippa United Reserves 

The game starts at 9:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and Variety 4. Live updates will be shared across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Entry at the match venue is free.

It was a second win over Usuthu in as many weeks for the Buccaneers, who move a spot up the standings to second place after collecting all three points.

After engaging in a thrilling cup encounter that produced six goals at Moses Mabhida, the league clash in Soweto began in subdued fashion as each side produced a solitary shot at goal to show inside the opening 20 minutes.

Patrick Maswanganyi was the first to fire goalward in the fourth minute, finding Veli Mothwa’s gloves with a miscued attempt after making a threatening run into the penalty area. This was followed up by a close call at the other end just five minutes later when Victor Letsoalo deflected an excellent ball from Mobara towards the Pirates goal, with the upright coming to the hosts’ rescue.

The game was turned on its head just after the 20-minute mark when Maswanganyi went on another storming run before meeting an overzealous challenge from Mobara just outside the penalty area, with the Usuthu defender shown a straight red after his foul was deemed to have prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Kabelo Dlamini took the resultant free kick and sent his shot drifting wide of the target, and that turned out to be Pirates’ last opportunity for the best part of the first period as the visitors closed shop at the back.

Usuthu had a chance to edge ahead on the stroke of halftime through a well-struck shot from Ethan Brooks, who drew an excellent save from Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine.

Pirates piled on the pressure early in the second half without carving a clear path to the AmaZulu goal and were nearly caught out against the run of play when a misplaced pass was intercepted by Ben Motshwari, whose long-range shot was kept out by Chaine.

The introduction of fresh legs in the form of Thalente Mbatha, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, and Monnapule Saleng injected some energy into the hosts’ attack as they continued their search for the opener.

They found the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Maswanganyi released Saleng out wide with the replacement attacker delivering an excellent ball into the middle for Tshegofatso Mabasa, who only needed a single touch to make it 1-0.

Usuthu’s pursuit of the equaliser presented chances for the Buccaneers, who had some bright moments in transition play as the game drew to a close. The best of these came from the boot of Saleng who darted down the right flank before cutting inside to shoot, drawing a save from Mothwa.

The home side were able to use their numerical advantage to great effect as they sought to close out the game, controlling possession during an extended injury time to notch up back-to-back victories against the men from KwaZulu-Natal.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sesane, Makhaula (Mbatha 46’), Timm (Ndlondlo 62’), Dlamini (Saleng 62’), Lebitso, Hotto, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng (Kimvuidi 73’), Mabasa.

Seven days since squaring up in a thrilling cup encounter held at Moses Mabhida Stadium, three league points are on the line this time around with Soweto hosting the two oldest clubs in the top flight.

Form Guide  

Usuthu take to the road with a point to prove after bowing out of the Nedbank Cup following the epic clash that finished in a 4-2 scoreline in favour of the Buccaneers. 

They remain in the bottom half of the league table with seven games left to play and will look to improve on their recent return, having managed just six points out of a possible 15 through one win and three draws in their last five games. 

A win on Saturday will be their second in as many recent away games and has the potential to launch them up from 12th place to within touching distance of a spot in the top eight.

However, they face a daunting challenge as they come up against a Pirates side high in confidence after notching up an astonishing 11 goals in their last two outings.

The Soweto Giants start the weekend in third place in the standings after their 7-1 routing of Lamontville Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium. 

With eight points earned through two wins and as many draws in their last five league games, Jose Riveiro’s troops will be on a mission to add another three to their tally.

Further success against Usuthu could see them swap spots with second-placed Stellenboscg, putting them on good footing in what has shaped up to be a fierce contest for spots in continental competition next season.

Team News 

Defensive duo Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki are again in contention for places in the match-day squad after both players missed out on the trip to Durban through suspension. 

Another boost for Pirates is the looming return of striker Evidence Makgopa, who is back at training after over a month on the sidelines.

For AmaZulu, midfielder Ethan Brooks is again an option for coach Pablo Franco Martin having served the one-match suspension that forced him out of the cup quarterfinal. 

Key Players

Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates): The attacking midfielder was instrumental in the Buccaneers’ victory over the weekend, putting on a near-flawless display en route to being named Man of the Match. A constant threat in opposition territory, Maswanganyi has impressed with his ability to punch holes in the most resilient of defences and has chipped in with 16 goal contributions in all competitions this season.

Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu): Ekstein was AmaZulu’s standout player at Moses Mabhida, continuing his impressive form for the Durban-based outfit. The 33-year-old’s experience and versatility make him a crucial asset for Usuthu, who have deployed him in various positions in the midfield.

Head-to-Head 

Saturday’s cup win stretched Pirates’ long unbeaten run over AmaZulu, who last tasted victory against the Soweto Giants in an away league clash in August 2013 when Bongani Ndulula’s 33rd-minute strike separated the two sides.

The Durban outfit has since gone 15 league games without a win, with the Buccaneers emerging victorious on seven occasions while eight fixtures have finished in a draw.

The last of these stalemates occurred earlier this season when neither side managed to find the net in the Premiership clash held at Moses Mabhida.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs AmaZulu 

The game kicks off at 17:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will be posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms and the Club’s official mobile app throughout the match.

Tickets are available online on TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.

The Soweto Giants thrilled and entertained in the past month, scoring a host of stunning goals in both the DStv Premiership and the Nedbank Cup, and nine of them have made the shortlist for the OPPOxPIRATES Goal of the Month.

Attacking pair Monnapule Saleng and Tshegofatso Mabasa frequently featured on the scoresheet throughout the month, and their goal-scoring exploits have been rewarded with three nominations apiece. 

Two of Saleng’s shortlisted goals were scored in the 3-2 Soweto Derby win against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, while he also struck in the 4-0 victory over Hungry Lions. Mabasa also produced a double of his own, striking twice against Northern Cape-based outfit, and was again on the scoresheet in Polokwane when the Buccaneers visited for a league game away to Sekhukhune United.

Also on the list is striker Evidence Makgopa, whose second-half header against Polokwane City ensured a hard-fought victory on the road. His goal is nominated alongside Relebohile Mofokeng’s brilliantly taken opening goal in the league stalemate against Cape Town Spurs, while Thabiso Lebitso’s stunning long-range strike against Chiefs also makes the cut.

One lucky fan could be a winner simply by replying with the goal they believe is the OPPOxPIRATES Goal of the Month for March 2024 on Orlando Pirates official social media platforms.

March 2024 OPPO Goal of the Month Nominees:

A: Evidence Makgopa vs Polokwane City
B: Relebohile Mofokeng vs Cape Town Spurs
C: Monnapule Saleng vs Kaizer Chiefs 
D: Tshegofatso Mabasa vs Hungry Lions 
E: Tshegofatso Mabasa vs Sekhukhune United 
F: Monnapule Saleng vs Hungry Lions 
G: Tshegofatso Mabasa vs Hungry Lions 
H: Thabiso Lebitso vs Kaizer Chiefs 
I: Monnapule Saleng vs Kaizer Chiefs 

Makhaula, facing his former club, seized the opportunity to make his mark by netting a crucial goal during the match. Yet, it wasn’t just his goal that captured attention; it was the comedic turn of events that followed shortly after.

In a twist of fate, moments after his goal, Makhaula found himself sprinting the length of the pitch, only to be swiftly substituted due to exhaustion. However, what ensued was a heartwarming and comical exchange captured on video: Makhaula dashed towards goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, embracing him in an emotional moment of celebration.

Reflecting on this memorable incident, Makhaula shared his perspective with Orlandopiratesfc.com, shedding light on the backstory of his jubilant sprint. “Before the game, Chaine came to me and made a bold prediction that I would score,” Makhaula revealed with a chuckle. “At the time, I didn’t take it seriously, considering I hadn’t scored in over eight years.”

“So, when the moment arrived, the first person that came to mind was Chaine. I sprinted so hard but only for my body to betray me,” he recounted jokingly.

Makhaula’s sprint may have been short-lived, but the camaraderie and laughter it sparked lingered long after the final whistle blew. In a game often characterized by fierce competition and high stakes, moments like these serve as a reminder of the human side of football, where bonds are forged amidst the intensity of the sport.

It was a welcome return to form for the young Buccaneers, who turned in a dominant performance to register their first win since early March.

In their second away fixture in as many weeks, the visitors sought to overturn their fortunes and were quick off the blocks, creating the game’s first chance at goal just seconds after the first whistle. The opportunity fell to forward Simphiwe Masilela, whose header drew a save from the keeper after a swift move upfield.

The Bucs attacker, along with Mohau Nkota and Gosiame Ngobeni, provided further chances at goal as the visitors piled pressure on the home side in the opening 10 minutes.

Swallows had opportunities of their own but met a determined defensive effort led by centre-back Mbekezile Mbokazi and debutant Khumoetsile Rathokolo who started between the sticks.

It took until the half-hour mark for Pirates to find the opener, which came through Mbokazi who had remained in an advanced position following a corner kick and made no mistake in slotting home to make it 1-0.

The wait for the second goal only lasted a mere seven minutes as Cemran Dansin sparked a move to release Nkota out wide, with the winger beating his man before locating Ngobeni who calmly doubled the lead.

Despite a comfortable advantage, the Buccaneers were unrelenting as two quickly became three in the space of seconds when Nkota combined with Mazibuko, who added his name to the scorecard five minutes before the break.

Masilela could have provided the fourth on the stroke of halftime, but his header fell just wide when he connected with an inviting cross from deep while Ngobeni did shoot on target with his effort moments later, only to be denied by the keeper.

Looking to reduce the deficit, Swallows enjoyed a positive start to the second period forcing Rathokolo into a couple of saves.

The Buccaneers had some chances of their own, with Ngobeni and replacement winger Aphelele Nzimande each going within inches of providing the fourth.

The goal did not elude the Buccaneers for long as another late replacement in Tshepo Mhlambi joined the action when he located Nzimande, who made amends for his earlier miss by slotting home to make it 4-0 in the 79th minute.

It remained one-way traffic in the dying stages, with the visitors looking to pile on further misery on the hosts, who managed to avoid conceding a fifth goal.

The final whistle sounded shortly as the Bucs Reserves claimed a crucial three points to move from fourth place to third in the standings.

Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Magugwana, Mbokazi, Mokone, Mohlala, Molepo, Dansin (Mhlambi 74’), Mazibuko (Masemola 74’), Nkota (Nzimande 74’), Ngobeni, Masilela (Selepe 65’).

It’s a second Soweto Derby in the space of three weeks for the Bucs Reserves, who are desperate to make the most of the few points available to them with just half a dozen fixtures remaining in their campaign.

Form Guide 

Winning form has eluded the young Buccaneers over the past few weeks, with no victories registered in their last four fixtures. This has seen them drop out of the top three for the first time in 2024, and they currently sit in fourth place with a seven-point difference between themselves and the log leaders.

They have only managed five points in their five most recent outings, winning one and drawing two games while also falling on the losing side twice.

Their last result was a disappointing stalemate away to Sekhukhune United where neither side could find the net, with the game eventually finishing goalless.

For Swallows, the Derby could be an opportunity to launch a strong finish to a season where wins have been hard to come by throughout.

The Birds have just three points to show for their efforts in their last five fixtures, all secured via a rare victory in their game against fellow strugglers TS Galaxy which took place two weeks ago.

Currently in 14th place, they will be seeking a vast improvement on their last result – a 3-2 defeat to a 10-man Polokwane City on home turf.

Head-to-Head 

This will only be the seventh DDC meeting between the two Soweto outfits, whose rivalry in the competition only dates back to the shortened 2021 season.

Each of the six previous matches has produced a winner, with the Bucs Reserves currently the more dominant side with four victories. This includes the reverse fixture at Rand Stadium where Lonwabo Magugwana and Lulama Nxumalo each got on the scorecard before a late brace from Mohau Nkota completed a 4-0 routing.

The hosts will not only be seeking their third win over their neighbours but also their first on home turf, with both their victories in this fixture coming on the road.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Moroka Swallows Reserves 

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 and will not be televised. You can keep in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.

After a tough two fixtures on the road where they managed a single point, home comforts provided a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the Buccaneers who went into the clash looking to ascend from fourth place in the standings.

It did not take them long to find some rhythm on Saturday when they dominated proceedings from the get-go but survived an early scare 10 minutes in when Kagiso Malinga went one-on-one with Sipho Chaine, who had an easy save to make in the end after a tame shot from the Arrows attacker.

The missed chance haunted the visitors almost immediately as the Soweto Giants found the opener, following an attempt at goal from Makhehlene Makhaula. The midfielder’s stinging shot from just inside the box was parried by goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana who could only guide it as far as the approaching Tshegofatso Mabasa, with the Bucs striker calmly turning the ball into the net.

Relebohile Mofokeng had an opportunity to make it 2-0 seconds after the restart when he peeled off the defence on the left flank, only to be denied by the Arrows shot-stopper.

A near-identical opportunity was set up through an excellent diagonal pass from Patrick Maswanganyi, and the teenager made amends for the earlier miss and displayed excellent skill and composure in taking Mlungwana out of the equation before outfoxing Thabani Zuke to slot home the second goal in the 14th minute.

The home side continued to stamp their authority and could have been three goals to the good inside the opening quarter when Mofokeng’s first-time shot from close range was kept out by the keeper.

The third goal came just after the hour mark through Kabelo Dlamini, who was unmarked as he received a piercing through-ball from Mofokeng before firing past Mlungwana with a well-taken shot.

Pirates had an opportunity to extend their lead further on the stroke of halftime after Maswanganyi was fouled inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Mabasa stepped up to take the penalty, but could not convert as he drew a save from Mlungwana.

The in-form Bucs striker however did not have to wait long to grab his second, which came just six minutes after the break when he finished from close range, turning a superb cross from Thabiso Lebitso into the net

There was a near miss from Dlamini in the 59th minute when he dragged his shot narrowly off target after being played in by Mofokeng, who had two close calls of his own when he volleyed over the crossbar following a clever chip down the middle from Timm before striking the upright with a low angled shot from just inside the box.

The Buccaneers eventually found their fifth goal of the evening and it came via replacement defender Sandile Mthethwa, who was pinpointed by Dlamini with an accurate ball into the box to head in from close range.

The five-goal lead only lasted two minutes as Arrows hit back in the 77th minute through Lungelo Nguse, who struck past substitute keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane to reduce the deficit to four.

The hosts were however quick to restore their five-goal lead just seconds after conceding, with Mabasa completing his hat-trick after combining with Lebitso once more.

Nguse could have bagged his second late in the encounter following an error from Mpontshane but rushed his shot, sending it well off target from close range.

The rampant Soweto Giants had the final say in proceedings as another substitution in Karim Kimvuidi stamped his mark on the contest by pouncing on a loose ball inside the box before firing past Mlungwana to make it 7-1.

That proved to be the last goal for the evening capping an incredible performance from the Buccaneers who move to third place in the standings.

Pirates XI: Chaine (Mpontshane 54’), Xoki (Mthethwa 46’), Sesane, Lebitso, Hotto (Maela 54’), Timm, Makhaula (Ndlondlo 66’), Dlamini, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi (Kimvuidi 80’), Mabasa.

A busy week concludes with another crucial league outing for the Buccaneers, who renew rivalries with Abafana Bes’thende as the season heads toward the final stretch.

Form Guide

They return home following a gruelling few days on the road where they only managed a single point over two matches, a turn of results that has seen them drop to fourth place in the standings.

The last of these outcomes was a one-all stalemate in the Original Soweto Derby against rivals Moroka Swallows, who netted first at Dobsonville Stadium before Patrick Maswanganyi’s second-half equaliser secured a point for the Buccaneers.

It was their second draw in five matches, taking their points tally over this period to eight points notched up through two wins and as many draws.

Pirates now gear up for an Arrows side unbeaten in their last three games, fresh off a 2-2 draw at home to SuperSport United where they came back from two goals down to steal a point and maintain ninth place in the standings.

The Durbanites have secured seven points in their last five matches, all coming in their three most recent outings where they have won twice and played to a single stalemate.

They head to Orlando Stadium looking to further underline their resurgent form, with victory holding the potential to push them back into the top eight.

Team News 

Arrows have had a few key players sidelined over the past few weeks, with Brandon Theron and Velemseni Ndwandwe among those likely to sit out yet another fixture. The visitors will also be sweating over the availability of defender Nduduzo Mhlongo, who was withdrawn early against SuperSport.

Similarly, the Buccaneers have Bandile Shandu and Evidence Makgopa among those still making their way back to full fitness.

Meanwhile, Bucs coach Jose Riveiro will be forced into a change in the center of the defence with Nkosinathi Sibisi unable to face his former side after being given his marching orders late in the match against Swallows.

Key Players 

Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The striker has hit the ground running on his return to Pirates colours, seamlessly fitting back in after his recent loan spell. In just seven appearances across competitions for the Buccaneers this season, Mabasa has found the net four times, taking his tally to 10 goals for the season.

Nduduzo Sibiya (Golden Arrows): Able to operate in various positions up front, Sibiya is a busy presence on attack and will be key for Arrows on Saturday. The 28-year-old has mainly started on the wings but has been equally effective in more central positions, tallying up a total of six goals across competitions this season.

Head-to-Head

Pirates will be looking to complete back-to-back league doubles over Arrows, whom they defeated 2-1 in Durban through goals from Patrick Maswanganyi and Karim Kimvuidi.

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit has had scant pickings throughout the rivalry, last registering a win against the Soweto Giants a little over three years ago when they scored two unanswered goals at home.

The vast majority of encounters between the two sides have gone the way of the Buccaneers, who have secured wins in 20 of the 37 league matches played since 2004 while only suffering six defeats.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Golden Arrows 

Kick-off is at 17:30 and the game will televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can follow the action as it happens by keeping an eye on live updates shared across Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

Tickets to attend the match are available on TicketPro online and in selected outlets nationwide.

In their second consecutive away fixture, the Buccaneers were determined to return to winning ways having suffered their first defeat of the year on their recent trip to Polokwane, where they lost 2-1 to Sekhukhune United over the weekend.

An erratic start almost saw them concede just seconds after the first whistle as a misdirected pass from Sipho Chaine led to a turnover of possession, resulting in a shot for Letsie Koapeng, who was denied by a crossbar.

This seemed to spring the visitors into life as they spent considerable time inside the Swallows half, conjuring a few goal attempts. The best of these came in the 21st minute via an inviting ball from the left flank delivered by Kabelo Dlamini into the direction of Tshegofatso Mabasa, who did all but connect well enough with the cross as his header went off-target.

They were made to rue the missed opportunities just five minutes after when another error at the back gifted the hosts an opportunity to take the lead, with Lindokuhle Mtshali duly slotting home past the outstretched Chaine.

The tricky conditions continued to play a part in the contest as Swallows nearly benefitted from one more defensive slip-up in the 31st minute, but the Bucs shot-stopper was perfectly positioned to make a relatively easy grab from a Koapeng shot.

Pirates had a couple of chances late in the first half when Mabasa headed into the side netting from close range before Deon Hotto fired narrowly off target from a fair distance out.

The visitors’ pursuit for the equaliser continued in the early stages of the second period, with midfielder Miguel Timm forcing a save off Daniel Akpeyi with a shot from range.

It only took them eight minutes after the restart to draw level, and the decisive moment came via some superb work on the right flank from Thabiso Lebitso, whose cutback was met by an accurate first-time shot from the onrushing Patrick Maswanganyi.

They immediately set about looking for their second and appeared to have found it through Thalente Mbatha who peeled away from the defence to turn an excellent cross from Hotto into the net, only to be flagged offside.

The Buccaneers continued to control matters in the second half and had a golden opportunity spurned with 13 minutes remaining on the clock when Maswanganyi’s ball into the box landed in the path of Relebohile Mofokeng who had Akpeyi beat but placed his shot over the bar.

Further chances fell to the visitors late in the contest, with Mabasa and late sub Zakhele Lepasa both unable to find the net with headed attempts from close range. This was before the loss of Sibisi, who was handed a straight red in injury time for dissent.

The late winner remained elusive in the end as Pirates were made to settle for a point, which keeps them in fourth place in the Premiership standings.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Lebitso, Hotto, Timm (Ndondlo 67’), Mbatha (Lepasa 90’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng (Kapinga 76’), Dlamini (Maela 76’), Mabasa.

The upcoming edition of the iconic Original Derby takes place at Dobsonville Stadium, and it’s the second of back-to-back assignments on the road for the Buccaneers. 

Form Guide 

Their previous venture into rival turf yielded their first defeat of 2024 as they lost 2-1 to Sekhukhune United in a match played at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. The result ended a two-match winning run across competitions and saw them drop from second to fourth place.

Pirates have collected eight points in their last five games in the Premiership, with six of those coming courtesy of wins against Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs. Over this period, they have found the net just seven times, while conceding six goals. 

The upcoming midweek fixture presents an opportunity to initiate a consistent run of results, which will be crucial in determining where they finish as the end of the season looms.

Looking to throw a spanner in the works is a Swallows outfit desperate to gain some momentum of their own, following a positive result in their last fixture.

The Birds ended a four-match winless run in the league with a dramatic 1-0 win away to Cape Town Spurs, with the three points earned in the game taking their tally to five in their last five outings where they have been beaten twice and played to as many stalemates. The solitary strike in their most recent match was only their third during this period, while their defence has been breached six times.

Having jumped one spot to 13th place in the league standings, Swallows head into their match against Pirates looking to string results together in a bid to continue working their way up from the bottom half of the table.

Team News 

The quick turnaround between fixtures could prompt both coaches to refresh their lineups following demanding assignments on the road for the two camps.

Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tapelo Xoki, Thabang Monare, and Patrick Maswanganyi are some of the names that could be back in the matchday squad for Pirates after sitting out the match at Peter Mokaba Stadium following their recent Bafana call-ups.

Meanwhile, Swallows will be without striker Gabadinho Mhango who is ruled out following yellow-card suspension. Coach Musa Nyatama could re-integrate the likes of Thabang Maponya and Letsie Koapeng, both unused subs in the game against Spurs.

Key Players 

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): The 33-year-old has been a consistent performer for the Buccaneers this season, ceaselessly impacting both ends of the pitch. Through his tireless energy on the flank, Hotto has been especially effective on attack and boasts six assists in all competitions including one in each of his last two games.

Daniel Akpeyi (Moroka Swallows): The veteran goalkeeper’s quality and experience have shone through amid a tough season endured by the Birds. A commanding presence in the penalty area, the former Nigerian international will be key for his side’s chances against a determined Bucs outfit.

Head-to-Head 

Pirates were triumphant in the last Original Derby, winning 2-0 through a first-half strike from Evidence Makgopa and a Sipho Sibiya own goal late in the league clash played at Orlando Stadium earlier in the season.

Completing a league double on Wednesday will extend their winning streak in the iconic fixture to four games, while Swallows remain on the hunt for their first league win against their rivals since the start of the 2014/15 campaign.

Since the Birds’ return to the top flight in 2020, the Buccaneers have been by far the more dominant side, winning four of the seven matches played with the other three ending in a share of the spoils.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Moroka Swallows 

The game starts at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

The Blue Diamonds are the second women’s team to emerge as Pirates Cup champions, and did so in dramatic fashion after forcing the game into penalties following a late equaliser from Julia Goncalves who converted from the spot to cancel out a stunning left-footed strike netted by Munashe Mugwara early in the second half.

Goalkeeper Casey Gordon was the hero in the shootout, keeping out two penalties to help her side to a 4-3 win which etched their name in history alongside the inaugural winners of the women’s competition, Tuks Ladies.

The men’s final on the other hand was decided in regulation time with UJ rallying back to overcome a first half deficit en route to securing the title. This is after Amahle took the lead through Lekhetho Morena before clinging on to preserve their lead as the two sides went to the break.

The Orange Army pressed for an equaliser and found it through Puleng Bapela midway through the second half, with the player later completing his brace moments from the final whistle to place his side within touching distance of the title. They were eventually confirmed as champions when the ref soon sounded the whistle, sparking wild celebrations.

Meanwhile, TS Galaxy Queens took third place in the women’s competition after beating Wits University in a goal-fest which finished with a 6-3 spectacle, while Emalahleni United finished third in the men’s category after overcoming Midlands Academy in their playoff.

Just 20 of the 64 teams that participated in what has been another electrifying edition of the tournament remain as the men’s competition enters the Round of 16, while the four women’s teams are set to battle it out in the semifinals. 

This is after the last six knockout spots in the men’s category were determined on the penultimate day, with Orbit College, East Rand Excellence Soccer Academy (ERESA), Midlands Academy, and Emalahleni United all securing outright qualification. Meadowlands Academy and River Park completed the Last 16 as they went through as the best-placed runners-up across the 16 groups.

TS Galaxy, Wits University, Mamelodi Sundowns, and JVW are the four teams remaining in the women’s category, and all were entered into the semifinal draw which served up some interesting fixtures.

Galaxy and JWV are set to battle it out in the first semi, while Wits take on Sundowns in the parallel fixture. Both matches kick off at 14:00 with the final scheduled to get underway at 16:00.

The men’s fixtures meanwhile kick off early at 8:00 and include a match-up between the free-scoring Amahle and River Park alongside what promises to be a mouth-watering clash between Sekhukhune United and ERESA, both winners of their respective groups. 

Last year’s runners-up Orbit College will also be on show early on as they take on Meadowlands Academy, while TS Galaxy’s encounter with Wits is among the eye-catching Round of 16 fixtures, along with SuperSport United’s battle against University of Johannesburg.

All 16 teams will be looking to advance to the quarterfinals which kick off at 11:50, with the semis and the highly-anticipated final scheduled to get underway at 14:00 and 16:00, respectively.

The full list of fixtures is below:

Women’s Semifinals

●    TS Galaxy vs JVW
●    Wits University vs Mamelodi Sundowns 

Men’s Round of 16 

●    Teltonika Amahle vs River Park FC
●    Orbit College vs Meadowlands Academy
●    ERESA vs Sekhukhune United 
●    University of Pretoria vs Midlands Academy
●    The Citizens vs Turfloop City 
●    SuperSport United vs University of Johannesburg 
●    TS Galaxy vs Wits FC 
●    Emalahleni United vs Mswenko Family

It was the first defeat in 2024 for the Buccaneers, who slipped to fourth place in the standings after falling on the losing side for the sixth time in their ongoing league campaign.

They went into the clash looking to reclaim second spot after being pushed lower down the table courtesy of the day’s earlier league fixtures but struggled to dictate matters early on despite enjoying a good chunk of the possession.

Sekhukhune attacker Vusimuzi Ncube was the first to muster up an attempt at goal seven minutes in when he let fly from a long way out, failing to trouble Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine who watched as the ball floated well off target.

The hosts followed up with the game’s first shot on target just nine minutes later when Chaine was drawn into a low save by Jamie Webber’s firmly-struck shot from range.

The shot stopper’s opposite number Badra Ali Sangare was also called upon midway through the first half, as Relebohile Mofokeng weaved himself into space deep inside the penalty area before attempting to sneak a shot into his near post, where the Ivorian was alert to the danger.

Kabelo Dlamini was well off target with his shot from the edge of the box as the visitors began to intensify their search for the opener.

However, that would come at the opposite end just after the halfway mark when Linda Mntambo combined with Mncube who was able to find a way past Chaine, giving the hosts the lead.

The Buccaneers’ pursuit for the equaliser did not yield too many real chances at goal, save for a close-range shot by striker Tshegofatso Mabasa who was interfered with by Sydney Mobbie as he drew a save from Sangare.

The Babina Noko shot-stopper was again in the thick of the action early in the second half when he tipped Dlamini’s well-directed effort from a free-kick over the crossbar.

The contest soon turned into an uphill climb for the visitors as they found themselves trailing by two goals in the 51st minute when the hosts managed to stretch their defence, allowing Mntambo to finish from close range.

Sekhukhune were only two goals up for five minutes, with Pirates pulling one back through Mabasa as he got on the end of a lovely ball from the left delivered by Deon Hotto.

Mntambo set about attempting to restore his side’s two-goal lead just moments later with a shot that landed not too far from the target as he fired at goal from a long way out.

The tussle between Dlamini and Sangare resumed in the 63rd minute, with the Ivorian diving low to deflect the Bucs midfielder’s shot out of play. This led to a corner, which almost produced the equaliser as Mabasa’s clever flick from the near post was kept out by the defence.

Pirates continued to probe and had another close call late in the contest as Mofokeng was released down the middle, only to come second best as he went one-on-one with Sangare.

That turned out to be their best chance at drawing level, with Limpopo outfit standing firm on defence to deny the Soweto Giants the much-needed second goal, eventually clinching all three points.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndah, Sesane (Mthethwa 46’), Lebitso, Hotto, Timm (Kimvuidi 62’), Mbatha, Saleng (Kapinga 62’), Mofokeng (Lepasa 88’), Dlamini, Mabasa.

The Reserve League is now well and truly in the business end, with just 21 points available to each of the 16 competing teams.

Form Guide 

Desperate for a win after managing a single point over the past three weeks, the Bucs Reserves head into the clash looking to claw their way back up from third place, where they sit eight points behind the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.

They failed to capitalise on a slip-up from second-placed Stellenbosch last Sunday, falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

The result stretched Pirates’ winless streak to three matches and they will be determined to improve their recent form, having collected seven points out of a possible 15 in their last 5 matches.

Squaring up against them on Saturday is a Sekhukhune side currently enduring a longer run without a win, with their last victory dating back to early February.

Babina Noko have since gone seven games since their last triumph, and have only three points to show for their efforts over the past five weeks.

After playing to a one-all stalemate in their derby clash against Polokwane City, the Limpopo outfit remain in seventh place and will be eyeing a spot higher up in the standings when they face off against the Soweto Giants.  

Head-to-Head 

Spoils were shared in the reverse fixture played at Rand Stadium earlier in the season when Mohau Nkota’s first-half strike was cancelled out early in the second period en route to one-all stalemate.

The result not only ensured Sekhukhune’s first league point against Pirates, but also produced their first-ever goal in what was the fifth encounter at this level between the two sides.

In their four previous clashes with the young Babina Noko, the Buccaneers bagged four straight wins, netting nine unanswered goals.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Sekhukhune United Reserves 

The match kicks off at 12:00 and will not be televised. You can keep in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms. 

The second day of this year’s tournament saw six more men’s teams securing qualification for the next round, joining the four group winners from the opening day, while the four women’s teams remaining in the competition await the start of the semifinals.

Among the teams that caught the eye as Day Two action got underway were Group F winners TS Galaxy, who booked their spot in the knockouts through wins against Invitational XI, Tembisa Destroyers, and Real Stars. Their haul of nine points placed them alongside Teltonika Amahle and SuperSport United as the three men’s teams to finish the group stage with a 100%-win record.

The young Rockets however turned out to be the only team to breeze through to the next round, with the other groups delivering neck-and-neck battles.

University of Johannesburg triumphed in a tight Group E, where they were separated by a point from runners-up Celta Vigo. The two teams had locked horns in one of the day’s opening fixtures, where a lone strike from Tokoloho Vilakazi was enough to hand the Braamfontein-based outfit what proved to be a crucial victory in the context of the group. 

A similar tale played out in Group G, where Wits’ 2-1 win over Perfect Academy proved to be the deciding factor as the two sides finished with seven and six points, respectively. School of Excellence’s hopes of a long run in the competition crashed late in the day when they were held to a goalless draw by Wits, which restricted them to just four points.

The other teams to secure automatic qualification into the next round were Group I winners Sekhukhune United and University of Pretoria who triumphed in Group J, while Turfloop City edged 2022 champions Ambassadors in a tightly-contested Group H, also decided by a single point. 

The Pirates Cup continues on Saturday, with teams from Group K to N looking to add their names to the 10 teams with confirmed spots in the Round of 16. 

Following the conclusion of the first official FIFA break of the new year, domestic football returns on the weekend with only a third of the season’s league fixtures remaining.

Form Guide 

Saturday’s fixture arrives with the two sides coming off contrasting results in cup football, where Sekhukhune were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 after losing 2-0 at home to AmaZulu.

The defeat was their first across competitions since December, ending a run of eight matches unbeaten.

In league football, Babina Noko have four wins in as many recent matches and have tallied up 13 points in their last five fixtures. They now sit in sixth place in the standings with an opportunity to go as high as second place should they stretch their winning run to five games.

Standing in the way of their best-ever run of results in the top flight is a Buccaneers side still unbeaten in 2024 after taking to the field six times. 

Pirates secured their spot in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals with an emphatic 4-0 win over Hungry Lions at Orlando Stadium, completing back-to-back wins after also triumphing in their league clash against Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Despite some inconsistency in the league, the Buccaneers have worked their way up to second place in the standings by notching up eight points in their last five fixtures.

Victory on Saturday brings them up to double figures under the wins column, strengthening their chance of securing a CAF Champions League spot for the second season running.

Team News 

Pirates have received several boosts in the lead-up to the fixture, welcoming defensive pair Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki back to camp, along with midfield duo Thabang Monare and Patrick Maswanganyi. The four players were part of the squad called up to represent South Africa in the inaugural FIFA Series held in Algeria over the past week.

Coach Jose Riveiro will also be able to call upon Thabiso Lebitso, who has served his one-match suspension and is again eligible for selection. 

Meanwhile, striker Evidence Makgopa is among those nearing a return to the match-day squad after a spell on the sidelines, while midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula has resumed training after his early withdrawal from the game against Hungry Lions.

The hosts also have internationals of their own back in camp, with Sydney Mobbie and Elias Mokwana rejoining their teammates after travelling with Bafana.

Key Players 

Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates): The attacker appears to be approaching his best after turning in performances reminiscent of the form that saw him bag last season’s PSL Players’ Player of the Season award. Following a spell on the sidelines, Saleng has fought his way back into the starting lineup, scoring three goals in his last two appearances and will again be key for the Buccaneers.

Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United): The 24-year-old has been instrumental for the Limpopo-based outfit in just his second season for the Club. Fresh off a confidence-boosting stint with the national team, Mokwana will be keen to stamp his authority as Babina Noko look to clinch a crucial home victory.

Head-to-Head 

Pirates met Sekhukhune four times across three different competitions in 2023, winning each time, but will tread carefully as they return to the scene of their only loss in what is still a relatively new rivalry. The defeat came during the 2022/23 season when the hosts emerged 2-0 winners after playing the bulk of the second half with a one-man advantage.

That has so far been a mere blight in the Buccaneers’ record against Babina Noko, as they currently boast five wins in seven encounters across competitions.

Five of the seven encounters between the two sides have come in the league, where the Soweto Giants boast three victories, including one secured away from home.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Sekhukhune United 

The game kicks off at 17:45 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. You can stay in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

The latest edition of the annual tournament where talent meets opportunity kicked off on Thursday, with a total of 24 men’s and women’s teams taking to the field on the opening day.

The ladies’ tournament served up a goal-fest, with Group A producing 30 of the 41 goals scored across the two groups as TS Galaxy Queens and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies ended the day tied at the top with seven points apiece, with both sides finishing with a goal difference of 11. The Mpumalanga-based outfit breezed past Teltonika Amahle with a 7-1 scoreline in their opening game before playing to a stalemate against their Tshwane counterparts.

They registered another convincing result in their final group game, beating Future Stars Ladies 6-1. Sundowns Ladies meanwhile kicked things off with a 3-0 victory over Future Stars before their draw with the Rockets and were runaway winners in their match-up with Amahle, which finished with an 8-0 scoreline.

Group B fixtures were more tightly contested as Wits University Ladies finished at the summit after wins against defending champions University of Johannesburg and JVW, with the latter finishing in second place to advance to the semifinals.

Tournament hosts Orlando Pirates Under-21s had a complicated path to the next round in the men’s tournament, finishing in second place in Group A with five points after securing a 1-0 win against Mswenko Family, alongside draws in their games against Young Boys and Diepkloof Diplomats.

Teltonika Amahle’s free-scoring exploits in Group C were the cause of much excitement as they found the net an astonishing 18 times without conceding in their three games. The bulk of the goals games came in a 14-0 crushing of Atlegang Sports, who finished bottom of the group, while Meadowlands Academy took second spot after clinching six points.

SuperSport United were the standout performers in Group B, registering three wins in three to advance to the knockouts. Group D was meanwhile headed up by the The Citizens, who managed to scrape through despite the challenge posed by FC Milan and Dube Continental, who both had realistic prospects of advancing to the next round ahead of the last group fixtures held on the day.

The action continues on Friday with 24 more men’s teams taking centres from Group E to J taking centre stage, with the first fixtures kicking off at 9:00.

The annual football spectacle will feature teams from across the country. A total of 62 teams (male and female), will contest for the R195 000 prize pool on offer.

Hosts Orlando Pirates kick off their pursuit of a third Pirates Cup title with an opening match against Young Boys FC. Diepkloof Diplomats and Mswenko Family are the other two clubs to complete Group A.

Group B, sees SuperSport United marking their return to the tournament with an opening clash against Debunkers. They will also play against Euphoria United and Phiri Movers.

In 2019, Matsatsantsa pipped hosts 1-0 in the final to claim its maiden title courtesy of a Reagan Appolis strike from the spot. 

Meanwhile, in the female division, defending champs Tuks Ladies have been drawn to face Wits University, JVW FC and University of Johannesburg.

In the other female group, Mamelodi Sundowns, Future Stars, TS Galaxy and Amahle FC will all be gunning for that top two finish that guarantees them qualification to the Knockout Stages.

The Pirates Cup will be taking place at Wits Marks Park Sports Grounds. The first matches start on Thursday, 28 March.

To keep track of upcoming fixtures and results, click here.

The young Buccaneers remain third in the DStv Diski Challenge standings, eight points off the pace with just seven games left to play in the ongoing campaign.

Billed as hosts on the day in front of the expectant crowd in Tsakane, the Bucs Reserves sought to overturn their winless run over their last two matches as they came up against their Amakhosi counterparts, who went into the fixture unbeaten in their five most recent outings.

It was the visitors who were the more positive of the two sides during the early exchanges but only had a disallowed goal to show for their efforts as clear-cut chances at goal proved scarce at both ends. This came just before the half-hour mark when Bucs keeper Zoey Monyepao parried a long-range shot into the path of Siphesihlle Tati, who found the net from an offside position.

Pirates remained starved of chances until late in the first half, when Mohau Nkota attempted to spark something from his right flank by cutting inside to shoot but misfired twice in quick succession as he sent both his attempts over the crossbar.

A similar result greeted captain Kgwadi Molepo at the start of the second half when he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box before skying his effort.

The home side continued to enjoy an elongated period inside opposition territory, but could not conjure up any real opportunities in the face of a committed defensive effort from their rivals.

The deadlock was broken at the other end just after the hour mark when Zolani Cossa went direct from a free kick and succeeded in evading the diving Monyepao to put his side ahead.

This spurred the visitors on as they went in search of their second just moments later through captain Kgaogelo Ramushu, who fired narrowly off target with his shot from range.

The wait for their second was a brief one as they doubled their lead following a defensive mishap from the Bucs Reserves, who allowed a turnover of possession inside their half before Naledi Hlongwane slotted home to make it 2-0.

Pirates’ search for their opening goal was devoid of any real opportunities until late in injury time when Siphamandla Mdunge was brought down right in front of the Chiefs goal.

Defender Lonwabo Magugwana was handed the responsibility of converting the set piece, and his low effort evaded the wall only to be kept out by goalkeeper Lungile Nkosi.

That was the closest the Buccaneers would come to finding the net throughout the contest, with Amakhosi hanging on to claim all three points in the Soweto Derby.

Pirates Reserves XI: Monyepao, Magugwana, Modiba, Mdunge, Mohlala, Molepo, Dansin, Nkota (Arends 74’), Masemola (Nzimande 82’), Matrose (Ngobeni 60’), Maphumulo.

It’s Derby Weekend on Match Day 23 of the ongoing campaign of the Reserve League, where the two Soweto Giants lock horns in a blockbuster clash to close out the weekend’s action.

Form Guide

Each of the two Soweto Giants heads into the game with extra incentive for victory after points were dropped at both camps in their respective fixture last weekend.

The Buccaneers endured a frustrating morning at home to TS Galaxy where they played to a goalless draw to remain in third place in the standings, five points behind table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.

That result, along with three wins and a defeat has seen them bag a total of 10 points out of the 15 on offer in their last five outings. This has resulted in them losing ground in what has been an intense race for silverware, and they will be looking to claim their first win in three games when they take to the field in Tsakane.

It will be a testing task, however, with Chiefs also looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their last outing, a one-all stalemate at home to Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The young Amakhosi have fared slightly better than their Bucs counterparts over the past five weeks, where they remain unbeaten with three wins and two draws to tally up 11 points during this period.

Having worked their way up to fourth place in the standings, just four points behind their Soweto rivals, a win on Sunday could go some way in strengthening their own standing among the contenders for the big prize at the end of the season.

Head-to-Head

The two Soweto Giants met in the opening weekend of the ongoing campaign, where Mehluleli Maphumulo’s 20th minute strike for the Buccaneers was cancelled out by Amakhosi’s Donnay Jansen 10 minutes later en route to an entertaining 1-1 draw.

It was only the second game to fail to produce a winner in the last six derbies, where a total of 16 goals have been scored.

Pirates have had the upper hand in recent encounters with their rivals, notching up three wins in the six games while only losing once and edging the goal-scoring stakes with nine goals to Chiefs’ seven.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Kaizer Chiefs Reserves 

The game kicks off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and Variety 4. You can also keep in touch with the action as it happens by tracking live updates shared across Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

Entry at the match venue is free.

The 34-year-old had to be stretchered off the field just before halftime on Saturday after complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. He was treated by the Club’s medical team with assistance from the medics and promptly transferred to Milpark Hospital for further medical treatment.

All necessary investigations have been conducted, and the player has since been discharged after consultation with a specialist.

Makhaula is scheduled to return to training on Wednesday, following assessment from the Pirates Medical Team. 

The player has revealed that he has been given a few days to rest before he can rejoin his teammates.

“I have been ordered to rest and have been taking it easy,” he said. “The coach and the team doctor will advise on how quickly I can rejoin the team, but I’m feeling 100% and ready to go.”

Pirates’ next fixture is a DStv Premiership encounter with Sekhukhune United taking place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 30 March.

The Buccaneers continue their quest for back-to-back titles after notching up the coveted piece of silverware for the ninth time when they triumphed in the tournament’s previous edition.

After finishing the weekend among the eight teams remaining in this year’s competition, they were drawn against the KwaZulu-Natal outfit fresh off a 2-0 win away to Sekhukhune United. 

Usuthu kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win in a dramatic derby clash at home against provincial rivals Royal AM. 

Following their successful travels in the Round of 16, they are set to host the Soweto Giants who notched up a 6-0 win on the road against fourth-tier outfit Crystal Lake in the opening round before bagging a 4-0 victory over Championship side Hungry Lions at Orlando Stadium in the Round of 16.

The fixture matches up the two oldest professional sides in South African football, with Pirates looking to take another step towards a 10th title while AmaZulu are still in search of their first triumph, having finished as runners-up six times since 1971.

The match venue, along with the date and kick-off time, will be announced by the Premier Soccer League in due course.

It’s a must-win game for the hosts, who remain among the contenders for the title with just nine games left to play in the current campaign.

Form Guide 

They head into the fixture following a slip-up in their most recent outing in the form of a 2-1 loss to Cape Town Spurs, which saw them drop down from first to third place in the standings

This continued a trend of topsy-turvy results on the road for the Soweto Giants, whose five defeats this season have all been registered away from home.

They remain unbeaten at home, with no points dropped since they were held to a one-all stalemate by Sekhukhune United in October last year.

In their last five games, Pirates have claimed nine points through three consecutive wins, losing twice while netting 11 goals and conceding eight.

They now gear up for a TS Galaxy side that has found itself scraping the barrel in terms of consistency throughout the season, with just three points collected over the past five match days, where they have only found the net twice while shipping five goals.

Fresh off a one-all stalemate at home to AmaZulu, the young Rockets are currently 13th in the standings with the last of the six wins collected during the current season dating back to late January.

They will be aiming for a first away win in nearly six months as they look to reconnect with the form that placed them among the pace-setters during the early part of the campaign.

Head-to-Head

Pirates Reserves were triumphant in the reverse fixture in November last year, bagging a 2-0 win through second half goals from Mohau Nkota and Jabulani Mokone.

It was their fourth consecutive victory against their Galaxy counterparts, whose last three-point haul in this fixture was collected at Rand Stadium during the 2020/21 season.

In their last five encounters, the Bucs Reserves comfortably lead the goal-scoring stakes, having found the net eight times while only conceding three.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs TS Galaxy Reserves 

The game is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 and will not be televised. Orlando Pirates will provide updates across the Club’s social media platforms throughout the duration of the match.

Against a Galaxy outfit in search of a first win since January, the Bucs Reserves were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their last result, which saw them relinquish their spot at the top of the standings.

They were made to toil by the men from Mpumalanga, whose physical approach ensured a first half dominated by crunching tackles.

Much of the action occurred in the middle of the pitch in the opening period, with neither keeper troubled throughout.

A more determined attitude from the hosts led to significantly more goal-scoring chances in the second half, mainly from set pieces.

Lulama Nxumalo was first to go narrowly wide from a free kick taken in the 57th minute when he went direct from a long distance out, only to pull his shot off target.

The Buccaneers had some defending to do moments later, with the centre-back pairing of Simphiwe Selepe and Mbekezeli Mbokazi teaming up well to avert the threat.

With just 20 minutes left on the clock, Bucs forward Gosiame Ngobeni provided what was the game’s best chance thus far when he rattled the woodwork after cutting in from the left to release a powerful shot.

Further chances from dead ball situations fell to Nxumalo and Mbokazi, who were both unable to convert as the visitors positioned themselves well to carry out crucial stops with the clock winding down.

Pirates keeper Zoey Monyepao was called upon late in the encounter, pulling off an excellent save to keep out a shot from point-blank range in the 79th minute.

It appeared as if the host would steal a win in the end when a last-gasp attack resulted in a penalty awarded after Siphamandla Mdunge was tripped inside the box.

Ngobeni was entrusted with spot-kick duties but could not grab the winner as right-footed shot was saved.

That turned out to be the final action of the game, sealing off a disappointing outing for the Bucs Reserves who had to settle for a single point at home.

Pirates Reserves XI: Monyepao, Selepe, Mbokazi, Mdunge, Sibiya (Mohlala 46’), Molepo, Matrose (Maphumulo 58’), Dansin, Nxumalo (Arends 74’), Nzimande (Masemola 58’), Ngobeni.

The victory paved the defending champions’ path into the quarterfinals in what was their first home game in this year’s edition of the prestigious tournament.

Following their convincing 6-0 win against fourth-tier outfit Crystal Lake in the opening round, the Buccaneers faced a step up in competition against the men from the Northern Cape. The Championship outfit gave a confident showing early on in the contest, making a couple of threatening forays into the hosts’ territory during the opening exchanges.

The Soweto Giants emerged from the nervy start still unscathed and were quick to impose themselves on the visitors.

A stroke of luck led to the breakthrough in the 20th minute when Relebohile Mofokeng managed to force a friendly deflection off the boot of defender Morena Monaheng, who unwittingly turned the ball past goalkeeper Glen Baadjies into his own net.

Pirates remained in the driving seat until late in the opening half when their defence was stretched, resulting in a shot at goal by Raymond Daniels who drew a save from Melusi Buthelezi.

Having taken a slender lead at the break, the hosts set about looking for their second after emerging from the tunnel, but neither Tshegofatso Mabasa nor Mofokeng could find the net as they each managed a shot at goal.

It took them until after the hour mark to double their lead, courtesy of some excellent work down the middle from replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini, who threaded a neat pass through for Mabasa, with the striker calmly slotting home to make it 2-0.

The wait for the next Buccaneers’ goal was not nearly as long, and it was provided just six minutes later by Monnapule Saleng when he was played in by another second-half sub in Deon Hotto before beating his marker and finishing past Baadjies.

Right back Thabiso Monyane could have added his name to the scoresheet late in the game when he drew two saves from the Ditau shot-stopper with successive shots at goal.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment at the other end of the field during the dying moments,  with Muzomuhle Khanyi worming his was within scoring range before pulling his shot narrowly wide from close range.

It took until the last few seconds of the contest for the Buccaneers to add to their three goals, as Mabasa doubled his tally with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the box to complete the routing.

There was no time for further action, with the Buccaneers registering an emphatic win to take their title defence into the quarterfinals.

Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Xoki (Mthethwa 78’), Sibisi, Monyane, Maela (Hotto 64’), Timm (Dlamini 64’), Makhaula (Mbatha 45’), Saleng, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi (Kapinga 78’), Mabasa.

For the first time in their title defence, the Soweto Giants will be on home turf where they face a potential banana peel in the Northern Cape outfit currently competing in the ABC Motsepe Championship.

Form Guide 

Affectionately known as “Ditau”, the visitors marched to the Last 16 after knocking out fellow championship outfit JDR Stars in the opening round, where they netted in extra time to bag a 1-0 win.

Since their triumph, they have taken to the field twice in the league, securing a comfortable win away to Milford FC before falling to a dramatic defeat in their last match on the road against the University of Pretoria.

Hungry Lions have had a mixed bag of results in their last five games across competitions, winning twice and losing as many games, while also claiming a league point through a stalemate against provincial rivals Upington City.

They now set off on a hunt for their biggest scalp yet in the form of the Buccaneers, who are fresh off a morale-boosting Soweto Derby triumph.

Jose Riveiro’s troops climbed to second spot in the DStv Premiership standings, following their 3-2 win against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium last Saturday.

In doing so, they maintained their unbeaten run in 2024 where they have won three matches and drawn twice across league and cup football while scoring 12 goals and only conceding five.

Having cantered past the opening round of the Nedbank Cup with a comfortable 6-0 win against Crystal Lake, they will look to book their spot in the quarterfinals with a commanding performance on Saturday.

Team News 

Bucs goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is unavailable for selection, having been granted compassionate leave by the Club following the passing of his mother.

The hosts are also likely to be without Evidence Makgopa, who missed the Buccaneers’ last two games due to injury. The striker joins Bandile Shandu and Paseka Mako as they make their way back to full fitness after lengthy absences.

Another player set to sit things out on Saturday is January signing, Thabiso Lebitso following his yellow card picked up during the derby. The caution was his fourth of the season, triggering a one-match suspension.

Key Players 

Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The striker made a goal-scoring return to the Buccaneers following a loan stint, and has another opportunity to further cement his spot up front. Possessing excellent aerial ability and a deadly left foot, Mabasa has seven goals and an assist across competitions this season and will be eager to add more to his tally.

Raymond Daniels (Hungry Lions): Daniels has been among the standout players in the Championship this season, and will hope to carry his impressive form into what is a tough assignment at Orlando Stadium. The attacker has been key for Ditau throughout the campaign, chipping in with eight league goals to sit among the front runners in the race for the golden boot.

Head-to-Head

Saturday’s Nedbank Cup fixture will be the first-ever encounter between the two sides at senior level.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Hungry Lions 

The game kicks off at 18:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. You can stay in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

Tickets to attend the match are available on TicketPro online and in selected outlets nationwide.

Bafana Bafana will take part in the inaugural edition of the FIFA Series held in Algeria, where they are scheduled to play two Friendly matches against the host nation and Andorra. 

Coach Hugo Broos announced his final squad on Monday with defender Nkosinathi Sibisi getting the nod, having been retained from the team that finished third in the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in the Ivory Coast last month. The 28-year-old made two appearances at the continental showpiece and is now on track to add to his 10 international caps.

He is joined in the 23-man squad by fellow centre-back Tapelo Xoki, who featured on the bench in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda in November last year. A first official Bafana cap could be on the cards for the Bucs hardman, who was penned into the AFCON squad as one of the players on standby. 

The Bucs contingent is completed by the inclusion of midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi, fresh off a Man of the Match performance in the recent Soweto Derby triumph. The 25-year-old is another prospective debutant, having last donned national colours at Under-20 level.

South Africa kicks off the series with a historic clash against Andorra, taking place at the 19 May 1956 in Annaba on Thursday, 21 March before locking horns with Algeria at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers five days later.

The trio is expected to return home on Wednesday, the 26th before joining the Bucs camp for preparations for their DStv Premiership fixture away to Sekhukhune United on Saturday. 

Now in its eight year, the Pirates Cup has solidified its reputation as one of the nation’s premier youth tournaments, drawing in top talent and fierce competition from all corners of the country.

But wait, there’s more! In a bold move to ramp up the excitement, Orlando Pirates has unleashed a wave of modifications in the female division. 

Responding to the clamour from female players, the age restrictions have been tossed aside, making room for a diverse array of talent to take the field.

 “We’ve heard the calls loud and clear,” declared Cayl Coetsee, a member of the tournament’s organising committee. “This year, it’s all about inclusivity and pushing the boundaries. By opening up the female category to all players, we’re gearing up for the most intense and thrilling showdown in the tournament’s history.”

You Snooze You Lose

Time is ticking! Teams have until March 15, 2024, to secure their spot by completing payment and submitting proof of payments. Miss the deadline, and you’ll find yourself sidelined and replaced by teams on the Waiting List.

Mark your calendars and lace up your boots because the action kicks off at the Marks Park Sports Grounds from March 28 to April 1. 

Get ready to witness the clash of titans and the birth of new champions at the Pirates Cup – where legends are made, and dreams come alive!

Two-thirds of this season’s Reserve League fixtures have been completed, and it remains tight at the top of the standings where each of the top three teams stands a chance of finishing Match Day 21 at the summit.

Form Guide 

The main task for the Bucs Reserves will be to try and maintain their grip on top spot, where they have been stationed for most of the new year while staving off stiff competition from the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch.

Joseph Makhanya’s young troops claimed their third straight victory last Saturday, beating AmaZulu 3-2 at Rand Stadium with Azola Matrose, Lulama Nxumalo, and Mohau Nkota each getting on the scoresheet.

It was their fourth win in their last five matches, taking their points tally to 12 points during this period, where they have notched up 12 goals and let in six.

They now visit a Spurs outfit fresh off a 2-0 defeat away to SuperSport United, which saw them drop down from ninth place to 11th on the log.

The Urban Warriors have endured inconsistent results throughout the season, and the trend has continued into their last five outings where they boast a disappointing five points earned through a single win and two draws. They have conceded six goals in the process, while only netting four of their own.

The Cape outfit was however victorious in their last home game and will be eager to repeat the feat against the young Buccaneers, who are still in search of their first win in the Western Cape this season.

Head-to-Head

The Bucs Reserves claimed a convincing win in the reverse fixture played at Rand Stadium, where they struck three times without reply before the young Urban Warriors found a late consolation goal to make it 3-1.

This was their first encounter in five years at this level, and the Soweto Giants have now won each of their last three games against the Capetonians.

In doing so, Pirates have found the net an impressive nine times while only conceding three goals.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Cape Town Spurs Reserves 

The game is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 and will not be televised. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms including the Club’s official mobile app.

Thousands of tickets have been sold ahead of the DStv Premiership encounter featuring the two most supported teams in South Africa, and a turnout of well over 80 000 football lovers is anticipated.

With this being a spectacle like no other, several measures have been taken to ensure safety as well as a smooth match day experience for those who will be taking in the action from the iconic venue.

Road Closures 

Road closures and other traffic control measures affecting several routes around FNB Stadium will be implemented from 8:00 on Saturday.

The specific routes for vehicles heading to the Stadium’s VIP, hospitality, and public parking areas are thoroughly explained in the Transport and Traffic Management plan. The details can be found on Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) website, www.stadiummanagement.co.za.

Parking Options

For your convenience, designated parking zones have been provided within the stadium precinct at no charge. To ensure smooth traffic flow, look out for directional signage guiding you to parking and drop-off areas. 

It’s important not to make payments for parking to unauthorised individuals, as parking is managed by SMSA. Gates will open at 11:30, and those making their way to the venue are urged to note that strict traffic control measures, including road closures, will be in place from 8:00.

Shuttle Services

Match organisers along with service providers have made a few convenient transport options available.

Rea Vaya is again among the options, with shuttle services operating from Thokoza Park, Library Gardens, Ellis Park, and Dobsonville.

The first bus at Thokoza Park will depart at 11:15, with the service at the other three stations commencing at 12:00. These will operate at intervals of five to 15 minutes, with the last buses to FNB Stadium departing from 15:00 across the stations with the exception of Dobsonville, where the last shuttle leaves at 14:30. 

After the match, the first buses from the stadium all depart at 17:00, with the last shuttles leaving the venue at 19:00.

There are additional transportation options available, including taxis, Park and ride services, and Gautrain buses will begin operating from 09:00 am onwards.

For additional information, follow Stadium Management SA on social media and visit www.stadiummanagement.co.za. 

The Buccaneers – billed as the home team on the day – displayed impressive character after trailing at halftime, rallying back to clinch all three points, completing a league double over their biggest rivals in the process.

The sell-out crowd at the famous World Cup venue was treated to a spectacle, with the game’s first shot at goal coming just seconds from the first whistle. This was when the visitors swiftly moved into Bucs territory, where Pule Mmodi fired well wide with the game’s first shot at goal.

The breakthrough came as early as the sixth minute when Ashley Du Preez peeled off from the shoulder of the defence before blasting past Sipho Chaine to hand Amakhosi the lead.

Pirates’ attempts at drawing level yielded a few half chances initially, with Tshegofatso Mabasa and Patrick Maswanganyi both unable to get a shot away after being played in by Relebohile Mofokeng.

It was back level in the 24th minute following a move sparked by Maswanganyi, who turned possession over on the right flank before linking up with Mabasa. The Bucs striker teed up Monnapule Saleng, who needed no second invitation as his powerful left-footed shot from outside the box found the bottom corner.

Deon Hotto had a chance to put Pirates ahead before the half-hour mark when he made a storming run down the left before firing wide.

The hosts continued to enjoy more go-forward ball than their opponents, but were not able to make the most of their territorial dominance throughout the opening half.

They were stunned just two minutes from the break when Du Preez went through on goal before finding the back of the net to restore Chiefs’ lead with his second of the afternoon.

With their work cut out for them in the second half, the Buccaneers continued to peg the opposition back inside their own half, but without sparking any out-and-out chances.

This was until the 57th minute when Thabiso Lebitso sprung up in acres of space to collect a cutback from Hotto before unleashing a stunner of a shot from range to leave the outstretched Bvuma with no chance.

The Namibian international nearly went from creator to goal-scorer after the hour mark as he went for goal directly from a free kick, only to have his shot kept out by the Amakhosi shot-stopper.

The Buccaneers did not wait much longer to take the lead for the first time in the contest, as they benefitted from a quick restart after the ball went out of play inside the opposition half before a clever touch from Maswanganyi laid the ball nicely for Saleng, who chipped Bvuma to complete his brace in the 68th minute.

Chiefs enjoyed a sustained period of possession late in the match as they went in pursuit of an equaliser.

Defender Given Msimango could have been an unlikely hero in the final 10 minutes when he attempted to get on the end of a set piece delivered to the back post, but was a split-second late to the ball.

Edson Castillo did manage to connect with a ball played into the box in the final minute, but Chaine was well-positioned to make a fairly comfortable save.

The Buccaneers almost had the final say in the game inside injury time as Mofokeng rushed towards the penalty area before curling a shot, which was palmed away by the diving Bvuma.

They managed to cling on in the final seconds of the encounter, notching up a remarkable Derby win to climb to second place in the standings.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Ndah (Sibisi 76’), Lebitso (Monyane 87’), Hotto, Timm (Mbatha 80’), Makhaula, Saleng (Maela 87’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Mabasa (Marou 80’).

The highly-anticipated clash is the final Soweto Derby for the 2023/24 season and arrives at a crucial juncture in the campaign with a maximum of only 33 points up for grabs for each of the two sides in the remainder of the season. 

Form Guide 

Very little separates South Africa’s two biggest teams in the standings, with the Buccaneers placed a spot above Amakhosi. Jose Riveiro’s troops are in fifth place, having notched up a total of 30 points, one more than their Soweto rivals after 19 games played. 

They remain unbeaten in 2024 after playing four games across competitions but will want to improve on their midweek performance where they dropped two points at home, relinquishing a one-goal lead to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against Cape Town Spurs. 

This was the latest in what has been a mixed bag of results over their last five league outings, which have seen them collecting just one victory alongside two defeats and as many draws.

Three points on Saturday could take the hosts to second place, but they face a tricky task of overcoming a Chiefs side high in confidence after bagging maximum points in their midweek assignment against Golden Arrows.

The result ended a three-match winless run in the league, where each of their fixtures yielded a single point with just one goal scored. It also took their points tally over the last five league games to nine, courtesy of two wins and three draws.

Much like the Buccaneers, they also have the chance to hop up to second place in the standings should they bag a win on Saturday.

Team News 

The hosts go into the derby sweating over the availability of striker Evidence Makgopa, who remains doubtful after sitting out the game against Spurs due to a knock picked up shortly after netting the winner in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Polokwane City.

Riveiro’s options up front include Tshegofatso Mabasa, who put on a decent showing in his first start since returning from loan, as well as Zakhele Lepasa who made a cameo appearance on Wednesday.

Pirates have been boosted in defence by the availability of centre-back Olisa Ndah following a yellow-card suspension that prevented him from featuring at Orlando Stadium.

Their opponents have at least one confirmed absentee in defender Edmilson Dove, who completes his two-match ban after being sent off during his side’s recent Soweto Derby against Moroka Swallows. 

Meanwhile, Siyethemba Sithebe’s lengthy absence looks set to continue as the midfielder continues to recover from an injury that has kept him out of action since August last year.

Key Players 

Makhehlene Makhaula (Orlando Pirates): The midfielder has seamlessly stepped up to the plate after being handed an opportunity in the starting XI, emerging as one of the more consistent performers in the Bucs squad. Makhaula has started each of this year’s fixtures, with his experience and composed demeanour providing stability in the middle of the park.

Pule Mmodi (Kaizer Chiefs): Mmodi is enjoying a decent debut season at Chiefs, rising to become the club’s leading goal scorer in the league. The winger added an assist to his list of goal contributions and could again be influential on attack.

Head-to-Head 

Pirates have enjoyed some success over their rivals in recent months, winning 2-1 to progress to the final of last season’s Nedbank Cup before clinching another victory in the previous edition of the Soweto Derby, played earlier in the season when Makgopa netted the game’s only goal to secure the three points.

They go into Saturday’s game looking to extend their winning run against Chiefs to three straight victories, a feat that will mark a sharp turnaround in fortunes after going winless in the five derbies preceding last year’s cup win.

In the last 16 league meetings between the two Soweto Giants, it is Amakhosi who hold a slight upper hand with seven wins while the Buccaneers have emerged as winners on five occasions. Four games have ended in a draw during this period, with the last such result dating back to the 2018/19 season.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs

The game kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and Variety 4. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the Club’s social media platforms as well as the Club’s official mobile app. 

A limited number of tickets is still available on TicketPro online and in selected outlets nationwide.

Having dropped back to fifth place in the standings, the Buccaneers remain unmoved after a frustrating outing in what was their first home league game against Spurs since 2017.

Looking to bag their second three-point haul on the trot following success on the road over the weekend, the home side began with a lively approach and were immediately in control of proceedings as they set up camp inside the Spurs half.

Right-back Thabiso Monyane provided the game’s first shot at goal just five minutes in when he forced Spurs goalkeeper Neil Boshoff into a nervy save, with the shot-stopper palming the ball against the upright. The 23-year-old followed this up with another attempt just seconds later, pushing his effort wide of the target this time around.

Shots continued to fly in towards the Urban Warriors goal, as striker Tshegofatso Mabasa fired over the crossbar from close range in the eighth minute after getting on the end of a clever pass from captain Innocent Maela.

Spurs had an opportunity spurned just two minutes later after winning a free kick in front of the Pirates goal, which was hit well over the crossbar by Luvuyo Phewa.

It only took another two minutes for the deadlock to be broken, and the goal came via a move started deep inside the Bucs half when Thalente Mbatha sent an excellent long ball into the path of Relebohile Mofokeng, who darted in towards the box from the flank before slotting in at the bottom corner.

The hosts did not take their foot off the pedal after edging ahead and had a chance to double their lead through Makhehleni Makhaula in the 23rd minute when the midfielder turned over possession right in front of the opposition goal before misfiring with his shot at goal.

They maintained control throughout the first period, but the second goal continued to remain elusive amid a determined defensive effort from the visitors.

The second half presented another opportunity for the Soweto Giants to pull away from the Capetonians, who were kept in the game by Boshoff as he pulled off a save to keep out a headed flick from Mabasa before Tapelo Xoki’s follow-up shot failed to penetrate the sea of red and white shirts inside the box.

The Spurs keeper was again alert to the danger moments later when he tipped Mbatha’s ambitious chip from the halfway line over the crossbar.

Mbatha had another chance at goal in the 56th minute, latching onto a loose ball before miscuing his shot, while a similar result greeted Spurs at the other end just after the hour mark when Butsaka went for goal from the edge of the box.

It took until the 76th minute for the visitors to restore parity as they equalised through a well-taken shot by an unmarked Gadiel Kamagi, who placed his shot well beyond the outstretched Sipho Chaine.

The Buccaneers set about finding their second as the clock wound down but were denied clear chances at goal throughout the game’s dying moments.

They managed to spark something up following a corner deep in injury time when Maela’s header was blocked by Boshoff, who also kept out Lesedi Kapinga’s low shot from close range.

That underlined a frustrating evening for the hosts, who claimed a single point to take their tally for the season to 30.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi (Hotto 67’), Monyane, Maela, Makhaula (Timm 85’), Mbatha, Kimvuidi (Kapinga 46’), Mofokeng, Maswanganyi (Dlamini 85’), Mabasa (Lepasa 67’).

The Bucs faithful at Orlando Stadium will catch a glimpse of the Soweto Giants for the first time in 2024 as they drop anchor in familiar waters after setting sail for a demanding three weeks away from home.

Form Guide 

They return from their travels still unbeaten in the new year and will face the Urban Warriors just days after a hard-fought 1-0 league victory away to Polokwane City.

That win was their second on the bounce, following a resounding cup victory notched up in Mbombela a week after kicking the year off with a league stalemate away to Mamelodi Sundowns.

In their five most recent outings in the Premiership, the Buccaneers have tallied up seven points via two wins and a draw after suffering two defeats in the latter part of the previous year. 

Currently fourth in the standings, a win on Wednesday could place them as high as second place. That however promises to be a tricky task, as they come up against a resurgent Spurs outfit enjoying their best run of results after a harrowing start to their first campaign in the top flight since their relegation in 2018.

The Cape outfit has prevailed in each of their last two league fixtures, claiming home wins against AmaZulu and TS Galaxy on either side of a disappointing cup defeat away to the University of Pretoria.

Despite their current position at the bottom of the standings with only 10 points earned this season, they have managed to gather seven points in their last five games and head to Soweto in search of a win that could play a massive part in their bid for survival.

Team News 

Midfielder Miguel Timm is again eligible for selection after completing the two-match ban that forced him to sit out games against Crystal Lake and Polokwane City.

The Buccaneers will however have to do without another key player in midweek, with defender Olisa Ndah suspended for the clash.

Spurs meanwhile appear likely to continue without the services of Namibian centre-back Lubeni Haukongo, who missed his side’s last two matches due to a knee injury.

Key Players 

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The teenager continues to enjoy a mercurial rise in Bucs colours, enjoying a bigger role in the First Team in only his second season of senior football. Possessing immense skill and confidence on the ball, Mofokeng has emerged as one of the Buccaneers’ most potent creative players.

Ashley Cupido (Cape Town Spurs): The South Africa youth international was instrumental in Spurs’ successful campaign in the Championship, and appears to have rediscovered his sharp goal-scoring form after a slow start to the season. Cupido has led the Urban Warriors’ recent resurgence, netting three goals in his last two league appearances to take his tally for the season to six.

Head-to-Head 

Pirates will hope to avenge an upset suffered on their visit to the Mother City earlier in the season when they lost 2-1 at Cape Town Stadium. The shock results occurred just days after the two sides met at Orlando Stadium in the opening round of the Carling Knockout, where Tapelo Xoki and Kermit Erasmus each found the net to hand the Buccaneers a 2-0 win.

The hosts head into Wednesday’s clash looking to uphold their proud home record against the Urban Warriors, whose last away victory in league games between the two sides dates back to the 2008/09 season.

The Soweto Giants have also been the more dominant side overall, winning 15 of their last 29 league fixtures against the Capetonians, who have been on the winning side just six times during this period, while eight games have finished level.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town Spurs

The game starts at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will be posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms and the Club’s official mobile app throughout the match.

Tickets are available online on TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.

The result helped the Buccaneers snap out of a three-match winless run in the league, as they claimed a crucial three points that propelled them to fourth place in the standings.

It only took them two minutes to create the game’s first chance, with Relebohile Mofokeng knocking the ball straight to Manuel Sapunga after connecting with an excellent ball delivered from the right flank by Thabiso Monyane.

That proved to be the only bit of excitement for a big chunk of the game’s opening quarter, as opportunities evaded both sides for much of the early part of the contest.

The hosts were able to send a shot towards goal in the 23rd minute when Oswin Appollis drifted in from the left before firing well over the crossbar. The Rise and Shine attacker went even closer from a set piece after the half-hour mark, as his curling ball from the edge of the box landed on the roof of the net.

Pirates’ best chance of the first half came through Karim Kimvuidi, who made an excellent turn on the edge of the box after connecting with Patrick Maswanganyi only to be denied by the woodwork.

The second period served up more opportunities early on, with striker Evidence Makgopa the first to conjure up a clear chance when he peeled away from his marker to fire just wide of the target.

Bucs goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was also kept busy at the other end, denying Thabang Matuludu and Simon Ramabu, who both chanced their luck from a distance.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when Makgopa displayed his aerial prowess in connecting with a lovely ball from Hotto to head in from just inside the penalty area.

The Bucs forward was not too far from his second just moments later, with his flicked header deflected out for a corner.

Pirates remained on the hunt for a second goal and had a few opportunities to double their lead late in the contest, following the introduction of fresh legs.

Replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini fired well off target in the 88th minute after linking up with Maswanganyi, while fellow substitute Innocent Maela could only manage a tame shot at goal after popping up in an advanced position on the left flank.

The woodwork was again the Buccaneers’ worst enemy, with Dlamini striking the upright late in injury time after guiding his shot past an outstretched Sapunga.

The final whistle sounded soon after, as the Soweto Giants made a winning return to league football.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Ndah, Monyane (Lebitso 67’), Hotto, Makhaula (Monare 83’), Mbatha, Kimvuidi (Mabasa 67’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng (Maela 77’), Makgopa (Dlamini 77’).

It’s a third consecutive victory for the young Buccaneers, who remain in pole position in a tight race for the title with just 10 games remaining in the season.

Coming up against the 15th-placed team, the gap between the two teams in the points table was not immediately apparent on the pitch as Usuthu started off as the more aggressive side.

The visitors spent the opening five minutes camped inside the Pirates half, where defenders Lebo Mohlala and Mbekezile Mbokazi made some vital stops to prevent an early goal.

The opener came at the other end against the run of play when the hosts made a foray into opposition territory, setting up an opportunity for Azola Matrose who blasted into the net from close range in the seventh-minute mark.

They remained in the lead for nine minutes, with AmaZulu equalising through Bayanda Thabede whose shot from a free kick caught a friendly deflection from the Bucs wall, wrongfooting goalkeeper Zoey Monyepao.

Pirates could have restored their lead moments later when striker Mpumelelo Ndaba was left unmarked inside the box, only to rush his shot and send it over the crossbar.

The missed chance nearly proved costly as the visitors grew in confidence midway through the first half, piling pressure on the hosts for a sustained period.

Their dominant spell however did not yield any goals, with the next strike coming inside their own half where Lulama Nxumalo produced a magic moment from outside the box, with his curling effort sneaking into the near post to leave the keeper rooted to the spot.

Having taken the lead with 10 minutes left until the break, the Buccaneers remained in control and had an opportunity to add to their advantage when Nkota fired wide from just inside opposition territory after spotting the keeper well off his line.

They took a slim lead into halftime and began the second period as the livelier of the two sides in an attempt to go two goals clear.

The goal came just after the hour mark through the boot of Mohau Nkota, whose excellent control on the edge of the box helped steer him clear of his marker before unleashing a brilliant volleyed finish into the bottom corner.

Pirates remained in control for a good 10 minutes before being pushed deep into their territory by AmaZulu, who were awarded a penalty after the referee spotted a foul inside the box.

Captain Yanga Mjoli was on hand to take the spot kick and made no mistake as he fired past Monyepao to set up a tense finish.

Usuthu’s hopes of leaving Rand Stadium with at least a point were however dealt a heavy blow in the game’s closing moments when they were reduced to 10 men after an illegal challenge on Nkota.

The Bucs attacker fired wide from the resultant free-kick before being presented with a similar opportunity moments later, failing to convert once more.

The was a late chance for replacement midfielder Calvin Chibwe, who miscued his shot after being played in by Nkota.

That proved to be the game’s last real opportunity as the Bucs Reserves held on for another crucial three points.

Pirates Reserves XI: Monyepao, Mbokazi, Sibiya, Mdunge, Mohlala, Selepe, Dansin, Matrose (Nzimande 65’) , Nkota, Nxumalo (Chibwe 79’), Ndaba (Maphumulo 65’).

It’s a clash between teams at opposite ends of the table, going into the encounter equally determined to bag all points on offer as the season approaches the final stretch.

Form Guide

The hosts come off an epic eight-goal thriller away from home, where they twice came from behind to clinch a 5-3 win over Royal AM after trailing by a goal with only a minute left of regulation time remaining.

The result helped them maintain pole position with 11 games left to play, having collected nine points in their last five fixtures through three victories.

Things remain extremely tight at the top, with Pirates’ superior goal difference keeping a semblance of daylight between themselves and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns. The two Gauteng rivals are tied on 41 points, only two ahead of Stellenbosch, with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City also within a fair shout for the title.

The young Usuthu are meanwhile some distance away from the race for top honours, having found themselves near the basement in 15th place.

This is after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Sundowns ended a two-match unbeaten run – their longest so far in the ongoing campaign.

With just four points taken from their last five outings, the Durban outfit heads to Rand Stadium in search of an upset that could impact the contest between the main frontrunners for the championship.

Head-to-Head

The Bucs Reserves have an opportunity to complete a double over Usuthu, following their victory in the reverse fixture played at Princess Magogo Stadium earlier in the season. Lonwabo Magugwana, Mehluleli Maphumulo, and Sibusiso Magadla all found the net in the second half as the Soweto Giants cantered to a 3-0 win on the day.

Recent results in the fixture have however favoured the away team, with each of the last five games won by the visiting side.

During this period, Pirates have had a slight edge, winning three and losing twice while netting seven of the 11 goals shared between the two sides

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs AmaZulu Reserves 

The game kicks off at 10:00 and will not be televised. Live updates will be posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

Well into the second half of the 2023/24 season, the Buccaneers are looking to bag maximum points against Rise and Shine, who have provided a stiff challenge for many big names on their return to the top flight.

Form Guide 

The fixture comes right after a short break from league action, where the two sides experienced contrasting results in their respective Nedbank Cup outings played last Saturday.

Pirates travelled to Mbombela Stadium, where they netted six unanswered goals against SAB Regional League outfit Crystal Lake to book their spot in the Round of 16. 

The emphatic win could be a timely boost in confidence for Jose Riveiro’s men, whose league form has seen them drop to fifth place after going winless in their last three games.

The Buccaneers have collected a disappointing seven points in their last five fixtures, winning twice before suffering back-to-back defeats, which were followed by a 1-1 draw away to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Their next opponents have meanwhile managed a similar return under the points column over a five-match period, with their seven points coming via two wins and a draw in their last three outings. This has taken them up to ninth in the standings, level on points with two other teams.

City were however on the losing side in the Nedbank Cup, falling to a 3-2 defeat on the road against Richards Bay. 

With their focus now firmly on league football for the remainder of the season, they make for a tricky proposition for all comers, starting with the Buccaneers on Saturday.

Team News 

The highly-rated Oswin Appollis is a notable boost for the hosts as he returns from suspension after sitting out the game against the Natal Rich Boys, following an accumulation of yellow cards.

Pirates will, on the other hand, be forced to continue without midfielder Miguel Timm, who completes his two-match ban this weekend.

Riveiro does have many options to call upon, following impressive displays from Makhehleni Makhaula and Thalente Mbatha in the middle of the park, while the experienced Thabang Monare could also add more minutes to his tally, having made a cameo appearance against Crystal Lake last weekend.

Key Players

Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates): The Bucs centre-back is enjoying a stellar campaign in his second season at the Club, where he has emerged as one of the leaders in the team. A calm, imposing presence on defence, Xoki has also chipped in with some vital goals and is fresh off a cup brace that took his tally to five in all competitions this season.

Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City): The speedy attacker has been Rise and Shine’s star turn in the ongoing campaign, churning out a number of impressive performances for the newly-promoted outfit. The 22-year-old has seamlessly slotted into various positions up front, contributing with five goals and three assists across competitions.

Head-to-Head

This will be the Soweto Giants’ first visit to Polokwane City since January 2021 when they walked off 4-1 victors, clinching their second consecutive away win over the Limpopo outfit.

The two sides have met once since City’s return to the top flight, playing to a 1-1 draw in the fixture played at Orlando Stadium earlier in the season.

The hosts will head into Saturday’s game in search of a rare victory over the Buccaneers, having last managed to pick up three points in this fixture a little over a decade ago when they claimed a 1-0 win at home.

In the 13 games played since then, Pirates have emerged winners on six occasions with seven encounters finishing in a stalemate.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Polokwane City 

Kick-off is at 15:30, and the game will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates shared across all Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.

The Soweto Giants cantered into the next round of the competition with a ruthless display over fourth-tier side Crystal Lake, winning 6-0 in the game played at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

They will be looking to take another step towards their 10th triumph in the national cup when they square off against the men from the Northern Cape, who are in the Round of 16 after edging past fellow first-division outfit JDR Stars in their marathon encounter in Soshanguve.

Formed in the 1980s, Hungry Lions go into their game against the defending champions looking to break into the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history. Their best finish was a Round of 16 exit in 2020 when they lost on penalties to Baroka, following a 2-2 stalemate after 120 minutes.

Ditau now face a daunting challenge following Monday’s draw, where they were matched against the nine-time champions currently gunning for a second cup double in as many years having already defended one title in the ongoing season.

The fixture will take place at Orlando Stadium, with the date and kick-off time set to be confirmed in due course.

Like a shooting star that streaks across the night sky, Baloni’s journey from a practical unknown playing in the National First Division to rubbing shoulders with his revered idols at one of the continent’s most illustrious clubs is a testament to the enchanting magic of this sport that we call the Beautiful Game. 

His journey serves as a powerful reminder that unwavering commitment, dedication, and a determined mindset can truly bring dreams to fruition. 

In his first interview as a Buccaneer with Orlandopiratesfc.com, Baloni recalls the life-changing moment when he was introduced to the game at the tender age of 11. From that very instant, gazing upon a soccer ball, he knew with unwavering certainty the career path he was destined to pursue.

Welcome to the Club. Please tell us. For those who don’t know, can you tell us – who is Sephelo Baloni? 

SB: Thank you, brother! My name is Sephelo, a young man who grew up at Sasolburg in the Free State but home is in the Eastern Cape, Dutywa.

You have come a long way. There must have been many sacrifices that you have had to make for you to be where you are today?

SB: Yes for sure. This is a game of sacrifice. I’ve learned very early on that this is a game that requires many sacrifices.

I have had to let go of lifestyles that would have been a hindrance to my life and my career.  I chose to focus on playing football and taking it seriously as a career. I realised at a young age that football was my calling, and I did my best to serve and perfect this gift from God. Even at home it was easy for them to recognise that I was passionate about football. 

How would you describe yourself?

SB: As a player – I am a midfielder who loves to play the game but as a person, its deeper than that. 

I am a person who is goal-driven, and I have a passion to win…. I always want to win. But like I said earlier, this doesn’t come automatically, and this is why I’m such a hard worker. I understand that nothing is given to you, you must work hard to get what you want. 

When you are not on the field what are some of your interests and some of your hobbies? 

SB: Outside of football I mostly relax and watch movies. I also enjoy doing some research on the history of football or the teams that I am currently playing for. I sometimes go to the mall, but in all honesty my life is centred around football. When I feel like interacting with other people, I mostly spend quality time with my family and my significant other. 

You say you love movies. What kind of movies do you like?

SB: I enjoy action movies the most. Your Fast and the Furious type of movies, that kind of stuff. I think I enjoy these movies because of how some of the characters in those films show bravery and fearlessness. 

Last season you were widely regarded as one of the most promising midfielders in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. What do you think makes you different from other midfielders and what do you think distinguishes you from other players?

SB: When you are a player, and you know what you want. Your mindset is bound to be different from that of other players. Everything that you do on the field will be different and the people watching will notice. Nowadays there are many talented players, but unfortunately talent alone is not enough. One has to do more. I know what my roles are as a midfielder, but I do not end there, I stretch myself. 

Even my former coach told me that he did not give me the responsibility of being a vice captain without reason. He gave it to me because of my strong personality. He told me that my personality is not the same as that of other people. Even when I am on the bench, I am not envious of other players, I encourage those who are playing because I understand my role as a team-mate that its not only about me and my needs but more about the team objectives. I think these are some of the things that make me different. 

Orlando Pirates had an impressive season in 2022/2023. What do you think you are going to contribute to the club so that the club remains on the same level?

SB: I must continue doing what got me recognised in the first place. As I said to you earlier, I am a goal-driven individual who believes in hard work. That’s all I can do, and this is what I promise to continue delivering. If I do that, all should fall in place.

There are many experienced players in Orlando Pirates. How do you feel about the fact that you are going to be playing amongst some of these big names? Does it give you pressure or does it motivate you? 

SB: For me I don’t see it as pressure at all. It just motivates me because it gives me a benchmark of what to do and what I should not do. So regardless of who I am playing with I try to learn something new from them. When we are practicing the guys tell me that I must not be intimidated, and I should just be myself.

Even when I do not have the ball on me, they push me to ask for it because they can see that I do wonders when I have the ball and I can protect it. People that I play with in the middle have shown me love and they have welcomed me well to the team.

And with that I would like to thank the Club for entrusting me with this opportunity. I would like to repay them for the faith that they have shown in me. I also look forward to playing in front of the supporters. Many may not know me right now, but with time I promise to show them my appreciation by giving my all every time I step into that field. 

Thanks for the time Sephelo. That will be it for now. All the best for the new season.

SB: Thank you!