Goodbyes are never easy. They tug at the heart, reminding us of the moments we wish could last forever. But in football, as in life, they are sometimes necessary.

When Coach José arrived in 2022, he didn’t just take charge of a team, he mended broken spirits, reignited lost hope.

Coming out of the 2021/22 season the Buccaneers had finished 6^th in the league with only 10 wins from the 30 matches; a first-round exit in the MTN8 to Swallows as well as a defeat to Marumo Gallants in the Round of 16 of the Nedbank Cup.

Football has a propensity to judge people too quickly and naturally an unknown José would be scrutinised before even setting foot on South African soil. However, the 47-year-old has since made believers out of doubters.

He has given the Pirates supporters more than just victories; he gave them a reason to dream again. And now, as the end of the season draws near, so does the reality that this incredible chapter is coming to a close.

But the story isn’t over yet. There are still games to be played, memories to make, and moments to cherish.

Speaking to Orlandopiratesfc.com, Riveiro said: “My priority right now is on our upcoming match against Polokwane City. This is a tough match. A match that needs our undivided attention and focus.

“The time will come for me to express myself on the decision I have made but now isn’t that time because we have a job to do. The season is far from over and we have a lot of work to do between now and the end of May.

“Obviously, in an ideal world, one would have wanted to hold on making any statements until the end of the season but it’s not possible. The club needs to plan for its future and it’s only fair that they are given time to do so.”

After Tuesday’s gruelling clash against MC Alger in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinals in Algiers, the Buccaneers – who arrive back in SA this morning, will travel to Limpopo to prepare for their Betway Premiership clash against Rise and Shine which will be played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium this Saturday.

It’s another massive fixture hosted by the Buccaneers at the iconic FIFA World Cup venue as they headline the weekend’s league action with another high-stakes assignment. They lock horns with the defending league champions, who present a key hurdle in their attempts to keep alive their bid for what has been one of their most elusive pieces of domestic silverware.

Form Guide

In what is the Buccaneers’ first home league fixture in almost a month, their impressive record in Soweto is set to be placed under its sternest test yet. They take on a side that is not only top of the charts as far as the overall standings are concerned, but one that also leads the charge among the best performers on the road this season with 25 points earned in 11 away matches.

However, Sundowns’ recent travels have not produced the most optimal returns. Having dropped a total of eight points throughout the season, half of those have occurred in their last five away fixtures. They suffered a shock defeat to TS Galaxy in Mbombela while a recent trip to Hammarsdale could only yield a single point against Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The slip-ups have been few and far between nonetheless, as they make the short journey to Soweto as the league form team over the past month by some distance. They are coming off a 2-0 home victory over AmaZulu in midweek, a result that helped increase the gap between themselves and their next opponents to a daunting 18 points.

Pirates meanwhile failed to make a significant dent in the deficit earlier in the week when they played to a goalless draw against a 10-man Stellenbosch in Athlone. It was the latest in a recent string of indifferent results, where they have collected less than half of the points on offer in their last five league outings.

Their struggles have mainly been on the road while in the games they have hosted, they have been near-unbeatable with only a single stain to their record in the form of a defeat to the same team faltered against on Tuesday. That was back in December, and in the months since then, normal service has somewhat resumed.

They defeated the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City in Soweto to make it eight wins in nine home league games this season, while also collecting a convincing cup victory in a tricky Nedbank Cup assignment at Orlando Stadium. Now returning to the scene of last month’s Soweto Derby victory, they search for another big scalp in a game that could alter the shape of the rest of the league campaign.

Team News

Suspensions have been a feature for both camps in the weeks leading up to this crucial encounter, but there will be no such worries on Sunday. This means that all players declared as match fit at either side are available for selection.

Defender Olisa Ndah and midfielder Miguel Timm are two players that could find themselves back on the pitch in the coming weeks. Yanga Madiba and Azola Tshobeni have meanwhile rejoined the squad after travelling to Egypt as part of South Africa’s squad participating in African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

Neo Maema and Terrence Mashego are also back in the Sundowns camp after their involvement in the same qualifiers. Meanwhile, new signing Lebo Mothiba will be eyeing a debut in the near future having recently made the move to the Brazilians as a free agent.

Key Players

Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates): The defender has hit a solid run of form, raking up a few Man of the Match performances in the process. Key in defence and one of the leaders in the squad, Sibisi’s influence will be key against an attack that is not short of firepower.

Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns): One of the standouts in the league throughout the season, Ribeiro will undoubtedly be one to watch on Sunday. The Brazilian currently leads the race for the Golden Boot and will be keen to replicate his heroics from the reverse fixture.

Head-to-Head

Pirates are presented with another opportunity to confront what has been a disappointing league record against Sundowns in recent seasons. They are without a win in a little over five years while their most recent encounter with their Tshwane counterparts yielded yet another defeat.

The 4-1 scoreline in that particular fixture is one the hosts will hope was nothing more than an outlier as fixtures played by the two sides over the past year have been tight affairs. Sundowns prevailed in two during this period – both at Orlando Stadium – while the Soweto Giants managed to come away with a point at Loftus Versfeld last season, despite finishing the game with 10 men.

It has only been in cup games where the Buccaneers have had the upper hand against one of their fiercest rivals, triumphing in all three of their most recent encounters outside the Premiership – including two cup finals. They will be better served approaching Sunday’s clash with a mentality needed for such do-or-die affairs, with minimal slip-ups required throughout the remainder of their league campaign.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

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.

Tickets to attend the game are available online on pirates.opentickets.co.za, while physical tickets can be purchased at over 1,700 outlets nationwide, including Shoprite, USave, and Checkers.

In a tense tussle between two of the competition’s most successful teams, the Buccaneers not only had to survive a 120-minute wrestling match, but also the lottery of a penalty shootout. They scraped through eventually, ensuring their third consecutive appearance in the last four with their title defence surviving yet another day.

While the result in the end was the desired outcome for the visitors, things did not really kick off as intended. They were forced to contend with a shot towards their goal just seconds from kick-off. It came off the boot of Gamphani Lungu, who brought out the best of Sipho Chaine, with the Bucs keeper pulling off an excellent reflex save.

The subsequent period proved to be a frustrating toil for Pirates, who had the lion’s share as far as possession was concerned without making any real inroads inside the attacking third. Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota both had half-chances with neither capitalising while United winger Enoch Quaicoe misfired with his chance at the other end.

It was left for another Bucs academy product to deliver a game-changing blow, which came a minute before the half-hour mark. Mbekezile Mbokazi was the player with the decisive touch as he found himself inside the box following a set piece before finding the top corner with a powerful left-footed shot.

Evidence Makgopa and Deon Hotto both misfired in their attempts to double the lead, while Mofokeng managed to send his shot on target with United goalkeeper Ricardo Goss keeping it out with a fine save to his left. An error at the opposite side of the pitch allowed the home side in for an equaliser, and former Bucs forward Terrence Dzvukamanja needed no second invitation as he pounced to make it 1-1 moments before the break.

That appeared to be the goal to send the two sides into the break with nothing to separate them, but only momentarily. United only enjoyed level parity for a couple of minutes as Makgopa restored the lead from close range in injury time following a couple of touches from Nkota and Hotto inside the United penalty area.

The early part of the second half featured a determined defensive effort from the visitors, who had to contend with Matsatsansa’s search for another equaliser. Chaine proved key in staving off the challenge posed by the home side, assisted by a bit of wastefulness from their attackers.

Pirates only remained in the lead until the dying moments when Gape Moralo was left untracked as he surged into the penalty area. That turned out to be a costly error from the Buccaneers with the United midfielder finding the net to send the game into extra time.

With it being the second marathon cup encounter between the two Gauteng rivals at a similar stage within the same season, Pirates would have fancied their chances as they had pulled through during the same period of the previous knockout clash. It was however not to be, with Deon Hotto and Phillip Ndlondlo both unable to provide a potential winner when presented with chances to push the Soweto Giants ahead.

The bombardment of the United goal continued well into the final stages of the time allocated to open play. The visitors could not edge ahead in the dying moments, and the referee’s whistle eventually signalled a decider through penalties.

United were first to approach the spot and Lebohang Maboe and Bradley Grobler were both on target with Hotto and Tapelo Xoki both matching their efforts. Ex-Bucs midfielder Vincent Pule was the first to misfire as Chaine guessed correctly to save his shot which was followed by an on-target attempt from Makgopa, who put Pirates ahead for the first time in the shootout.

Nyikko Mobbie placed his side back level with their fourth spot kick and just as the visitors could see the finish line, Goss saved the corresponding kick from the boot of Ndlondlo. Successful spot kicks from Oratilwe Moloisane and Patrick Maswanganyi ensured that the drama of the encounter would be extended to sudden death.

Another save from Chaine – who kept out a shot from Christian Saile – shifted the advantage back into the Buccaneers’ favour. This set up a heroic moment for Goodman Mosele, who made no mistake in firing past Goss to ensure that Pirates’ lengthy reign in the competition extended beyond the last eight for the third season running.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Mbokazi (Maela 85’), Ndlozi (Van Rooyen 69’), Mako, Makhaula (Ndlondlo 90’), Mbatha (Mosele 69’), Mofokeng (Shandu 85’), Nkota (Nkota 69’), Hotto, Makgopa.

It’s a do-or-die clash between two sides that have achieved the rare feat of going back-to-back in terms of success in the competition. While the home side attempt to scale a significant hurdle in their bid to reclaim a crown they last held in 2017, their opponents go into the crucial encounter looking to emulate the legendary Bucs side of the 1970s in securing a hat-trick of titles.

Form Guide

Pirates cantered past the two opening rounds of this year’s  competition, netting six goals while conceding just twice across the two matches. They beat Premiership rivals Richards Bay 3-1 away from home before producing the same scoreline in their Round of 16 clash against Championship outfit Baroka. Those victories added to their impressive streak in the prestigious tournament, which they have dominated in recent years.

Overall form however has been a little on the indifferent side for Jose Riveiro’s troops in recent weeks. They have twice been on the losing side in the past month, going down to Mamelodi Sundowns and Marumo Gallants with both matches played away from home. There have been four victories amid the disappointments including Wednesday’s 1-0 triumph against Chippa United – their second away win during this period.

Their cup exploits have now seen their return to the scene of league wins against Magesi and Sekhukhune United earlier this season. It is where they will be locking horns with a Matsatsansa outfit emerging from a goalless draw at home to AmaZulu in midweek, just days after falling to a 1-0 defeat away to Magesi at a venue not too far from the one that will be serving as their home base for the cup quarter-final.

The Tshwane outfit’s route to the last eight has not been too dissimilar from that of their next opponents as it consisted of fixtures against opposition from each of the two top tiers in South African football. United brushed off the challenge of Magesi in their opener – winning 2-0 on the road – before a rather tight home encounter against Championship outfit Cape Town Spurs, which was decided in the penultimate minute of extra time through a Lebohang Maboe strike that made it 2-1. The latter result is just one of only two positive outcomes in the span of a month for Gavin Hunt’s men, with the other one being a convincing 4-1 win against a 10-man Kaizer Chiefs.

Having tasted success against one of the Soweto Giants, they will be encouraged to put on a performance that could mark their return to the semifinals after failing to do so since they last went all the way to clinch the title.

Team News

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is back in contention for a spot in the Buccaneers’ match day squad after not making the midweek trip to the Eastern Cape due to suspension. There will however be a forced reshuffling of the defensive line, with Nkosinathi Sibisi ruled out after picking up a one-match ban through an accumulation of yellow cards on Wednesday.

Pirates have also had to contend with a few injuries in recent times, with influential midfielder Patrick Maswangany among those not likely to feature while defender Olisa Ndah and striker Zakhele Lepasa have made steady progress since being sidelined.

Meanwhile Hunt remains a most prominent absentee for the home side. The veteran tactician was sent off during the league loss to Magesi and will be serving the second game in his two-match suspension.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The 20-year-old has stepped up to the plate, embracing the added responsibilities that come with his ever-evolving role in the team. Fresh off adding another assist to his tally, Mofokeng is one of many potent attacking threats in the Bucs setup and boasts an impressive 20 goal contributions in just 33 games across competitions.

Samir Nurkovic (SuperSport United): One of the new faces in the blue of Matsatsansa, the Serb has not hesitated to make an impact in his new surroundings. The 32-year-old is adept at finishing with either foot while posing a significant threat aerially and has already had a hand in four goals in his eight appearances for United.

Head-to-Head

While the two sides have been neck-and-neck in the league over the years, it’s Matsatsansa who have had the upper hand in their most recent Nedbank Cup encounters. They prevailed over the Buccaneers in back-to-back finals, clinching the title in 2016 and 2017.

Nevertheless, winning momentum in the ongoing season is currently with the Soweto Giants, who have registered wins over their Tshwane counterparts in both cup and league football. They claimed a 3-1 win in the MTN8 quarter-final back in August, and were again victorious by a similar margin when they netted two unanswered goals to claim all three points in a Premiership encounter that took place two months later.

Both those wins however occurred at Orlando Stadium, where they have won regularly against United. Their record against them on the road has been a direct contrast to their home success, and they now head into Saturday’s do-or-die victory still in search of their first away win since November 2024.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game kicks off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the match are available for purchase online at TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.

Chaine will miss the opportunity to face his former employers because of a one match suspension.  The former Chilli Boy collected his fourth booking in Pirates’ loss to Gallants over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Bucs medical team has confirmed with Orlandopiratesfc.com that Tito – who missed out on the clash against Gallants, continues to undergo rehabilitation from an injury he suffered in Bucs’ 2-1 win against Cape Town City last week.

“Tito sustained a grade one strain in our match against Cape Town City. We will continue to monitor his situation and provide the technical team daily updates on his progress,” reads the report.

The medical department has also provided updates on the rest of the squad players:

Miguel Timm (Ankle)

Currently undergoing on-field rehabilitation work while also attending physiotherapy sessions. He is expected to return to full training in 7-14 days.

Thabiso Monyane (Hamstring)

Has started field-based rehabilitation with emphasis on agility, aerobic endurance and accelerations and decelerations. To start high-speed running next week.

Zakhele Lepasa (Ankle)

Has started field-based training with the strength and conditioning team.

Olisa Ndah (Shin)

Has completed his rehabilitation and has returned to full training. Currently on working on his match fitness.

Thabiso Lebitso (Ankle)

Continues to undergo treatment post-surgery. Attending Physiotherapy sessions for acute management.

Thabiso Sesane (Achillies)

Like Lebitso, Sesane also underwent a successful procedure and is currently undergoing treatment while attending Physiotherapy sessions for acute management

The Qatari capital will be hosting the live draw to determine the first ties of the knockout phase of the competition along with the possible matchups in the semifinals.

The 1995 champions have a keen interest in the proceedings as they remain in the hunt for the most prestigious prize in African interclub competition.

They dominated a tough Group C, finishing unbeaten with an impressive 14 points – the biggest tally in the group stage. As group winners, Pirates are one of four seeded teams heading into the draw and will face one of the second-placed teams in the other groups, as well as host the decisive second leg of their quarter-final tie. Group C runners-up Al Ahly is excluded from their list of prospective opponents for this stage of the competition. They also get to avoid Sudanese giants Al Hilal, Tunisia’s Esperance, as well as AS FAR from Morocco – all winners of their respective groups.

This means that the possible rivals in the last eight are narrowed down to the other three runners-up, and orlandopiratesfc.com takes a look at each of the teams that could soon be lining up against the Buccaneers.

MC Alger (Algeria)

Coached by legendary Tunisian defender Khaled Ben Yahia, the Algerian outfit are gunning for their second Champions League title, nearly 50 years since they were crowned champions in 1976. They finished second to Al Hilal in a tough Group A and were the best defensive side across the 16 teams that competed in the previous round with just two goals conceded in their six matches. Currently at the summit of Algerian Ligue 1, MC Alger are looking to progress past the last eight for the first time since their historic triumph.

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

A team that will need no introduction to the Bucs faithful as their rivalry with the Soweto Giants stretches well over half a century. The one-time champions were second to AS FAR in Group B, separated by only a single point. A perennial feature in the knockouts since claiming the 2016 title, Sundowns have managed to secure a semifinal berth in each of the last two editions of the tournament.

Pyramids (Egypt)

The youngest club still remaining among the contenders, Pyramids made their mark in front of goal in the previous round of the ongoing competition where they finished with the joint highest goal tally – tied on 14 points with domestic rivals Al Ahly. Only goal difference prevented the team coached by ex-Croatian international Krunoslav Jurčić from claiming top spot in Group D, with Esperance clinching the honour. Yet to make a significant mark in this particular competition, the Egyptians know how to navigate the knockout rounds in continental football having finished as Confederation Cup runners-up in 2020.

The Champions League draw will get underway at 16:00 (SAST) and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC Sport.

Following a riveting weekend of knockout football, the two Gauteng rivals formed part of the teams that had booked their spots in the next round. They have been pitted against one another in one of the more enthralling match-ups in the last eight.

It will be somewhat of a grudge match for the Soweto Giants, who are set to lock horns with the last team to defeat them in the final of the esteemed competition. Matsatsansa achieved the feat twice, denying the Buccaneers the 2016 title before lifting the coveted trophy a second successive time after scaling the same hurdle.

In this year’s tournament, United’s endurance was tested en route to the quarter-finals when they went the distance against Championship outfit Cape Town Spurs. It took them 119 minutes to find a winner with Lebohang Maboe landing the decisive blow in dramatic style to secure a path to the next round for the men in blue.

Following early exits in the last two editions, they are now back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022 and will look to end Pirates’ reign which extended after a commanding performance at home over the
weekend.

Unlike their Gauteng rivals, the Buccaneers only needed 90 minutes to get past Baroka, beating them 3-1 at Orlando Stadium. They will be back on the road as they look to defend their title for the second consecutive season.

Their next opponent is an all-too-familiar foe and one they have already encountered in knockout football this season when they claimed a 3-1 win in a marathon MTN8 quarter-final in Soweto in August last year. The two sides have also met in the league this season, with the Buccaneers prevailing at home once more.

The upcoming clash presents a clean slate for the Tshwane outfit, who will welcome the change in scenery and competition, while the visitors aim to continue their pursuit of an 11th title.

Fixture dates, match venues, and kick-off time are set to be announced by the League at a later date.

It was a triumphant return home for the defending champions when they joined four other teams in the last eight, with three more spots still to be occupied.

Dominant for the entirety of the first quarter, Pirates were denied clear-cut opportunities throughout despite controlling matters from the jump. The Baroka defence did well to shield Malcolm Jacobs’ goal for much of the opening exchanges amid early pressure from the hosts.

The shot-stopper was first called into action 19 minutes after the first whistle following excellent work from Bucs right-back Deano van Rooyen, who surged across from the right before connecting with Relebohile Mofokeng. The 20-year-old attacker drifted centrally before unleashing a shot which was tipped over the crossbar.

Patrick Maswanganyi followed up with an effort of his own which was dealt with easily by the veteran gloveman.

The wait for the breakthrough only lasted 29 minutes, and it came through Mabasa who finished past Jacobs after making a well-timed run inside the box to connect with a cross from Deon Hotto. 

With the visitors looking to draw level, Pirates were still able to surge deep into opposition territory. They had a chance to go two ahead in the 37th minute as Mofokeng combined with Hotto, with the Namibian international fluffing his lines from just inside the box as he scooped his effort over the bar.

Just as it appeared as if the home side would take only a slim lead into the break, they produced a moment of magic. Paseka Mako and Kabelo Dlamini were both involved along with Mofokeng in an enterprising move that carved the defence open before setting Mabasa up for a relatively easy finish to make it 2-0.

Baroka continued to show some fight in the second half, but the vast majority of the goalmouth action was at the other end. Dlamini drew a save from Jacobs after linking up with Maswanganyi seven minutes after the interval. This was only seconds before halftime substitute Phillip Ndlondlo joined in the action, sending his long-range effort crashing into the crossbar with the keeper out of the equation.

It took another 10 minutes for the Soweto Giants to pull away even further, and their third goal was a result of sustained possessional dominance. They starved the visitors of the ball before knocking it towards Maswanganyi, who played a flick for Mabasa. The striker took one touch before producing a composed finish from just outside the box to complete his hat-trick.

Baroka would however land a blow eventually, following a free kick awarded on the edge of Pirates’ area in the 75th minute. It was taken by Sydney Malivha whose shot found a tricky bounce which aided it past the outstretched Sipho Chaine.

That signalled the end of a relatively quiet afternoon for the Bucs shot-stopper, with Dan Ndhlovu testing him with a stinging shot from range in the game’s dying moments. The 28-year-old came out on top this time around, showing great agility to tip the ball over.

As the clock wound down, the visitors continued in their attempts to throw a spanner in the works. The Buccaneers had however done more than enough to carve a passage into the quarterfinals, as they effortlessly held on to win by a two-goal margin.

Pirates XI: Chaine,  Xoki (Maela 67’), Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Mako, Makhaula (Ndlondlo 46’), Dlamini (Rasebotja 81’), Maswanganyi, Hotto, Mofokeng (Kimvuidi 67’), Mabasa (Makgopa 81’).

There is rarely time for a breather in competitive football as the Soweto Giants continue in their punishing schedule. They are faced with two testing assignments against top-four opposition in the space of days, beginning with a bruising outing in Polokwane.

Form Guide

It comes just days after the big Soweto Derby where they edged rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a dramatic encounter at FNB Stadium, bagging three points to keep a strong position in the standings. It was their fourth win in as many matches across competitions, but a return to winning ways in the league after a narrow defeat in their previous appearance in the competition.

Babina Noko now stand between them and a second consecutive three-point haul which could go some way in plugging the six-point gap between themselves and current log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. They find themselves in second place a dozen matches into their league campaign, where they have hit double figures under the wins column.

Three of the 10 victories posted this season came in their last five outings, where they twice landed on the losing side. They have maintained a mostly good record away from home, winning three times with four unanswered goals before conceding the goal that would lead to their first defeat on the road.

Looking to reclaim their earlier form, they are now up against a Sekhukhune side that has been one of the toughest to overcome in their home patch. The Limpopo outfit has hosted seven different teams thus far this season, claiming 16 out of a possible 21 home points

They currently sit in fourth place on the log with eight points won through two wins and two draws in their five most recent fixtures. They are winless in their last two league games however, having lost to Chiefs before rallying from a goal down to rescue a point away to Stellenbosch.

Team News

The hosts go into the match missing two key players through suspension. Midfielder Relebogile Mokhuoane serves a one-match ban after picking up his fourth caution for the season against Stellenbosch while his partner in the centre of the park, Siphesihle Mkhize is ruled out due to a red-card collected in the same fixture.

The Buccaneers meanwhile emerged from the derby with no fresh suspension concerns. On the injury front, a few players are inching closer to a return to action with Goodman Mosele and Zakhele Lepasa among those that could soon feature for the first time this season.

Key Players

Makhehleni Makhaula (Orlando Pirates): The veteran midfielder not only provides experience, but also an impressive workrate and crucial leadership in the middle of the park. The 35-year-old impressed with his Man of the Match performance in the Soweto Derby, covering plenty of ground to break up play while regularly turning defence into attack in a tireless 90-minute display.

Keletso Makgalwa (Sekhukhune United): The former SA youth international has made an immediate impact since joining Babina Noko at the start of the season, delivering key contributions on a regular basis. Having started in each of Sekhukhune’s league games, Makgalwa’s accurate passing and powerful right foot make him a constant threat to the opposition.

Head-to-Head

Wednesday’s match will only be the seventh fixture between Pirates and Sekhukhune and so far, results have largely favoured the side playing at home. The Buccaneers remain the only team to emerge victorious on the road, winning 1-0 on their first league visit to Babina Noko in a game played at Ellis Park in April 2022.

They  have since lost two in two since their hosts’ move to Polokwane, but do maintain an unbeaten record at Orlando Stadium which has kept them ahead in terms of overall results. Things remain tight however, with Pirates boasting three wins overall to Sekhukhune’s two with one match finishing in a stalemate.

There is nothing to separate the two teams in terms of goals scored in their previous meetings. The 12 that have gone in so far are evenly shared at six apiece, with each team finding the net four times at home while only conceding twice.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game kicks off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport Variety 3 (208). You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets are available online at Computicket as well as selected outlets nationwide.

Following a recent disruption to their schedule, it’s a return to domestic cup football for the Soweto Giants as they begin their venture to extend their reign as champions in the illustrious competition. They recently achieved a similar feat in the MTN8 where they bagged a third straight title. First up on their sights is a side that promises to provide a stiff challenge in what is one of a few all-Premiership match-ups in the opening round.

Form Guide

Knockout football has been a consistent feature for the Bucs throughout the season. They began their campaign with a successful MTN8 run which was quickly followed by involvement in the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds. They have recently advanced past the group stage through to the quarter-finals of the latter, with their cup record still only blemished by an early exit from the Carling Knockout.

The game against the Natal Rich Boyz arrives after a run of consecutive victories against CR Belouizdad of Algeria and Egyptian giants Al Ahly, while boasting four wins in their last five matches across competitions. Their only defeat in this sequence was in their most recent domestic outing, which was a league game away to Cape Town City which finished 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

In attempting to further cement their status as South Africa’s cup kings, Pirates cannot afford a similar slip-up against the men from KwaZulu-Natal who have had a brief but promising taste of cup football so far this season. They made it past the first two rounds of the Carling Knockout – going past Sekhukhune United and Cape Town City – before exiting in the semifinals.

While they have displayed glimpses of their ability to prevail in the pressure situations associated with cup football, similar success in the league has eluded them. They have so far amassed just two wins in 14 Premiership fixtures. They have failed to get over the line in four of their five most recent games, falling on the losing side three times while winning once and collecting a single draw.

With somewhat of a clean slate presented by their clash against the Buccaneers, the main item on their agenda will be to spark their season back to life with a famous victory. Their opponents, on the other hand, will go in determined to continue their dominance in the competition having played an impressive 10 matches since their last Nedbank Cup defeat.

Team News

Bucs coach José Riveiro will be forced to do a bit of shuffling at the back, due to the unavailability of defender Nkosinathi Sibisi. The 29-year-old is suspended for the fixture after picking up his fourth yellow card for the season in Cape Town.

Pirates will also be without Thabiso Monyane who is recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in the same fixture. A few more players are on the mend however, with Olisa Ndah and Goodman Mosele among those primed for a return in the near future.

Key Players

Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates): Key to Pirates’ excellent start to the season has been their defence, and the man between the sticks has been an important component in that regard. Chaine has kept six clean sheets in the league so far and 13 in all competitions, while his ball-playing ability adds an extra dimension to the team.

Yanela Mbuthuma (Richards Bay): The young centre-forward continues to grow into a key player for the Rich Boyz, effortlessly adapting to his role as the main man upfront. Half the goals scored by the hosts in all competitions this season have come off Mbuthuma’s boot while he also has an assist to his name, underlining his importance to the cause.

Head-to-Head

While recent form suggests a favourable match-up for the Buccaneers, they will be fully aware that there are never any guarantees in knockout football. Their hosts have showcased that at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the not-so-distant past when they edged past them on penalties during the second round of the 2023 Carling Knockout – a fixture that remains the only cup meeting between the two sides so far.

Aside from that particular upset, Riveiro’s men have had a slight upper hand in games against the KZN outfit as they boast wins in three of the six league games played between the two. The most recent of these was during the earlier part of the ongoing season, where Pirates only needed a solitary strike from Evidence Makgopa to collect all three points at King Zwelithini.

While not short of fireworks, their fixtures have not produced a flurry of goals with only five scored in regulation time throughout the seven encounters played to date. It is the Soweto Giants who lead comfortably in this regard as they account for four of these, while the Natal Rich Boyz only managed to find the net in their shock 1-0  win at Orlando Stadium towards the end of the 2023/24 league campaign.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game kicks off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.

It is another home outing for the Bucs Reserves who are looking to build a head of steam halfway through their campaign, having found themselves in unfamiliar territory in mid-table. They welcome a struggling Gallants outfit returning to the competition after a season-long absence.

Form

Ahead of the weekend’s encounter, it is the home side who will go in with a degree of confidence. This is after returning to winning ways with a 2-1 victory against Polokwane City at the same venue. That result ended a tough three-match run where they could only manage a solitary point through a stalemate against Richards Bay, which was immediately followed by defeats to fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

As a result of the recent run of form, the young Buccaneers have managed a meagre seven points in their last five matches, only winning twice in the process. There has not been much of a difference when comparing their form at home to their overall returns over an equal amount of fixtures as they also boast two victories and a stalemate with two defeats.

Despite indifferent form on all fronts, they will be regarded as odds-on favourites for this particular encounter. This is largely due to the form of the opposition, not only heading into the match, but throughout the entire campaign.

With 14 games played, Gallants remain the only team yet to taste victory in the DDC. They visit the Soweto Giants amid a torrid run of six straight defeats and have only amassed three points throughout the season.

While emerging as the whipping boys thus far, they have rarely suffered embarrassing losing margins of late, and have collected two thirds of their total points tally on the road.

Their sights will be set on breaking their duck under the win column, with victory giving them the slightest chance of avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.

Head-to-Head

Gallants’ return to the big time means they cross paths with Pirates once more, having not done so at this level in nearly two years. Their most recent encounter finished in a resounding victory for the Soweto Giants, who recorded a 4-1 win with goals from Gomolemo Khoto, Njabulo Mndebele, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Mehluleli Maphumulo. That was the Buccaneers’ second win in three clashes with Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, who were victors in the first ever encounter between the two sides.

While there is no real daylight in terms of games won in this relatively young rivalry, it is a different story when it comes to goals scored. Pirates are well-clear in that regard, having found the net 11 times in the three matches with Gallants currently sitting on three.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Marumo Gallants Reserves

Kick-off is at 10:00 and the game will not be televised. Live updates will be posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

The medical team has confirmed the following:

Goodman Mosele
Has started training fully with the team however, he still needs to undergo one last examination by a specialist before he is given the green light to be available for selection.

Zakhele Lepasa
Is progressing well as he continues to undergo rehab. He has started field-based running as they gradually increase the load.

Olisa Ndah
Has been given the green light to start field-based training which will also involve conditioning as he gets closer to full recovery.

Thabiso Monyane
Has suffered a hamstring tear in the league match against Cape Town City. He has been ruled out of competition for up to four weeks.

The challenge, however, is that only two teams can advance. The Algerian giants come into this match seeking three crucial points. However, a draw might also suffice depending on results elsewhere, with the Buccaneers facing Al Ahly and Belouizdad set to meet the already eliminated Stade d’Abidjan. As always, Orlandopiratesfc.com provides a tactical analysis of this crucial match.

Current Form (Last Five Matches): W – L – W – W – W – W

The last time we analysed CR Belouizdad, the club was in turmoil. Coaching changes and struggles for consistency saw them flirting with the relegation zone in the Algerian Ligue 1. Now, “The Reds,” as they are affectionately known, seem to have turned a corner impressively.

Currently ninth in the Algerian Ligue 1 table with 19 points, they have three games in hand over league leaders JS Kabylie, who sit on 24 points. Their resurgence extends to the CAF Champions League as well. Following a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Al Ahly, the Algerians bounced back with a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, keeping their hopes alive. In their last five matches, they’ve registered four wins, signalling a team in form.

To Attack or Defend: The Tactical Dilemma

When CR Belouizdad faced Al Ahly in their return leg, their intentions were clear from the first whistle: attack at all costs. The Algerians adopted an aggressive, high-pressing strategy, seeking nothing less than victory.

Against Orlando Pirates, their approach will likely dictate their setup. If they adopt an attacking mindset, Pirates can expect a repeat of the second half of their earlier 2-1 win over Belouizdad. This approach featured relentless pressing, early crosses, and quick throw-ins aimed at unsettling the opposition before they could regroup. Players such as Khanyiso Mayo and Abderrahmane Meziane (as well as the two full backs) will be central to this strategy.

Conversely, a more conservative approach might see the midfield pairing of Housseyn Selmi and Abdelraouf Benguit anchoring the side. Their roles would focus on breaking up play and maintaining possession. This defensive setup often slows the game’s tempo, with Belouizdad excelling in disrupting their opponents’ rhythm.

What Do the Numbers Say?

CR Belouizdad are the undisputed crossing specialists of the competition. Ranking second overall for total crosses, they delivered an astonishing 30+ crosses in their first clash against the Buccaneers and average 23.75 crosses per game.

For context, Orlando Pirates rank 16th with an average of only 7 crosses per game. Al Hilal of Sudan (log leaders of Group A) rank 15th with 8 crosses per game while Sundowns rank 14th with 9 crosses per game. This speaks to the contrasting styles of these two teams.

For open-play crosses, Belouizdad leads the pack with an average of 18.75 per match. Key contributors include:

Houcine Benayada: The right-back ranks first in the competition for open-play crosses, averaging five per game. Left-back Naoufel Khacef, ranks fourth overall, Khacef contributes 4.2 open-play crosses per match.

Key Players

Aymen Mahious: Ranking fourth in shots per game (3.75), Mahious poses a consistent goal threat.
Khanyiso Mayo: The South African forward ranks second among Belouizdad players and 13th overall with 2.35 shots per game.
Abderrahmane Meziane: The creative lynchpin, Meziane leads the competition in intentional assists with a rating of 0.78. The closest player to him is Ramadam Sobhi of Pyramids who sits on 0.62. Pirates’ highest-ranking player is Relebohile Mofokeng who is ranked ninth place.

Conclusion

Khanyiso Mayo and Abderrahmane Meziane represent the dual threat of goals and creativity for CR Belouizdad. Mayo’s recent rise to prominence underscores his growing importance, while Meziane’s ability to conjure chances from seemingly nothing makes him a constant headache for defences. With so much on the line, the tactical battle between Orlando Pirates and CR Belouizdad promises to be a fascinating clash. Whether “The Reds” opt for attack or a more measured approach, we will see on Sunday.

The match will be played at the Mecca of South African football – the Orlando Stadium. Kick off is 15h00.

Goal D, scored by Mohau Nkota in the match against Amazulu, has emerged as a fan favourite, but it has been closely compared to Goal M, Relebohile Mofokeng’s stunning strike against Magesi FC in the last match of 2024.

Supporters have struggled to select their favourite, with many torn between Mohau Nkota’s incredible efforts in both Goal D and Goal I. Meanwhile, Goal K, Thalente Mabatha’s brilliant finish during the Pirates’ emphatic 8-1 victory over Marumo Gallants, has also received considerable praise.

As the contest narrows down to the Top 2, it’s now a battle between Mohau Nkota (Goal D) and
Relebohile Mofokeng (Goal M). Fans will decide who takes home the title of Oppo Goal of the
Month in the final round of voting.

Voting in Round 3 closes on Thursday, 2nd January 2025. The winner will be announced on Friday, 3rd January 2025.

To vote
Cast your vote in the comments section across all platforms followed by #OppoxPirates

This edition features a thrilling lineup of 13 spectacular strikes scored across competitions October, November, and December. It was a goal-filled period for the Buccaneers, with Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshegofatso Mabasa, and Mohau Nkota each earning double nominations. Joining them on the star-studded list are Deon Hotto, Monnapule Saleng, Evidence Makgopa, and Kabelo Dlamini, while midfielder Thalente Mbatha features three times.

This makes for a tough choice as only one of their goals will be named OPPOxPirates Goal of the Month.

How to vote
To enter, simply vote in the comments by stating which goal deserves to be named OPPOxPirates Goal of the Month.

The process consists of three stages. Voting in Round 1 is now open until 17H00 on Tuesday, 31 December. The second stage begins on 1 January 2025, narrowing the competition to the four most popular goals.

The final round will take place on 2 January, when the Goal of the Month will be selected. The winner will be announced on Friday, 3 January 2025.

OPPOxPirates Goal of the Month Nominees (Oct-Dec)

A: Monnapule Saleng vs Polokwane City
B: Evidence Makgopa vs SuperSport United
C: Kabelo Dlamini vs Richards Bay FC
D: Mohau Nkota vs Amazulu
E: Deon Hotto vs SuperSport United
F: Tshegofatso Mabasa vs Marumo Gallants
G: Thalente Mabatha vs TS Galaxy FC
H: Relebohile Mofokeng vs TS Galaxy FC
I: Mohau Nkota vs CR Belouizdad
J: Tshegofatso Mabasa vs Marumo Gallants
K: Thalente Mbatha vs Marumo Gallants
L: Thalente Mabatha vs Marumo Gallants
M: Relebohile Mofokeng vs Magesi FC

It was an eventful return to league football for the Soweto Giants, who overcame stoppages and a spirited first half performance from the visitors to complete their biggest win of the season thus far.

They could not have asked for a better start to the match as they were in the lead within seconds after moving the ball upfield from the kick-off. It found its way to Deon Hotto, whose cross from the left was turned into the Gallants net by midfielder Kenneth Nthatheni.

Following a break in play brought about by some inclement weather, the Buccaneers managed to get the ball in the back of the net once more in the 10th minute. This time it was from the boot of Relebohile Mofokeng, whose goal did not stand as it was declared offside despite TV replays suggesting otherwise.

Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine kept out one shot from Daniel Msendami midway through the first half. He could not do much against Gabadinho Mhango just seconds later as the striker fired past him for the equaliser.

After drawing level, the visitors were able to keep clear-cut chances at their goal to a minimum while making the odd foray up the other end of the pitch. The best of their opportunities came through set pieces where Chaine kept out a header from Phathutshedzo Nange before denying Mhango’s direct shot from outside the penalty area. Mofokeng could have restored the lead at the stroke of halftime when he was played in by Mohau Nkota, but could only skew his attempt wide.

Following an evenly-fought first period, the second 45 minutes proved to be a direct contrast. The Buccaneers began it just as they started the first, restoring their lead through Tshegofatso Mabasa who netted the first of his three goals on the day seconds after the restart. The striker completed his brace just five minutes later as he headed past Washington Arubi after getting on the end of a lovely square ball delivered by Hotto. Bucs right-back Deano van Rooyen was next to join in the party, finishing from close range to make it 4-1.

With a comfortable lead early in the second half, Pirates were far from done as Mabasa brought up his second league hat-trick in 2024 in the 64th minute after heading in on the near post, following a corner kick from Kabelo Dlamini.

It was then Thalente Mbatha’s turn, with the hosts going 6-1 to the good as the midfielder fired in with a trademark long-range effort, which evaded the hapless Arubi. The 24-year-old repeated the feat in the 84th minute when he stretched the Buccaneers’ lead to six goals.

Mofokeng, who had been a thorn in the Gallants flesh on the left, was then brought down moments before the final whistle. The referee promptly pointed to the spot, with replacement striker Boitumelo Radiopane stepping up.

The 22-year-old made no mistake in bringing up his first senior goal for the Soweto Giants, sending Arubi the wrong way to make it 8-1. That was the last of a flurry of goals served up by the hosts, who ushered in the festive cheer with a commanding display on Christmas Eve.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane (Xoki 84’), Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto (Mako 72’), Mbatha, Makhaula (Tshobeni 77’}, Dlamini, Nkota (Gilberto 72’), Mofokeng, Mabasa (Radiopane 72’) .

With this hat-trick, Mabasa has two to his name in a calendar year following Bucs’ 7-1 triumph over Golden Arrows in April earlier this year.

Reflecting on his performance, the 28-year-old expressed both gratitude and joy, emphasising the importance of the team’s success.

“Thank you for the result, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “But secondly, to score a hat-trick as a striker is very special. We just hope that this win can spur us on to better form for the rest of the season.

“I would like to thank my teammates and also like to acknowledge the technical team for the hard work that they put in. It’s from all the work that we do at training which makes this possible.”

Orlando Pirates will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Magesi. The Buccaneers will be seeking redemption after being eliminated by Dikwena tša Meetse in the Netbank Cup earlier this year.

The visit, which came just days before the highly anticipated Christmas Eve’s Betway Premiership clash at home against Marumo Gallants, was a heartfelt gesture aimed at uplifting the less privileged during the holiday season.

Led by the club’s media officer, Miss.Thandi Merafe, the Orlando Pirates staff delivered Christmas gifts and groceries to the organisation, sparking joy and hope among the children. “Christmas is a very special day to spend with family,” said Merafe. “As a club, we found it fitting to come to the Tembisa Child and Family Welfare and spend time with our young supporters.

Dreams are possible, and this day is special to us because it encourages the underprivileged to believe that the impossible is possible.”

The initiative aligns with the club’s commitment to fostering a deeper connection with the community and spreading the values of kindness, family, and hope. It also serves as a reminder of the club’s ethos: a responsibility not only to excel on the pitch but also to inspire and uplift beyond it.

Crowned champions in the same city back in 1995, the Soweto Giants returned to the historic battleground as one of two teams still unbeaten in their group. They were looking to push their tally to seven points on the halfway mark of the group stage, with top spot beckoning. Missed opportunities however plagued their efforts, particularly in the first half where they were the more dominant side.

Makhehleni Makhaula and Relebohile Mofokeng were both afforded chances at goal inside the opening 15 minutes. However, both players placed their shots off target as they looked to push ahead. These were the first of many attempts at the goal manned by Drissa Bamba who was mostly unthreatened despite being by far the busier of the two men between the sticks.

The Ivorian shot-stopper was made to strain in keeping out a shot from Mohau Nkota 30 minutes in when he dived low to his left after the Bucs forward was unselfishly played in by Evidence Makgopa. He could have been called upon late in the first half, but the home side’s defence managed to scramble to deal with the danger posed by a Bucs set piece they threatened deep inside the penalty area.

Following some close calls, Pirates were afforded a golden opportunity to make the most of their ascendancy as Mofokeng was brought down inside the box. This resulted in a penalty, taken by Makgopa who effortlessly sent Bamba the wrong way with seconds remaining before the break.

The pace increased notably in the second half as Les Yéyés looked to draw level. It would only take them nine minutes to find the equaliser which was provided by defender Ousmane Méité who fired in from close range.

Pirates had the opportunity to restore their lead in the 58th minute when Makgopa was released out on the left flank. The chance was however spurned as Bamba came out on top in a one-on-one situation.

Spurred on by the equaliser, Abidjan looked a different side for much of the second half and threatened to steal a late winner. Ben Guel Kouyate had a couple of close calls on either side of a wayward header at the other end from Bucs replacement striker Tshegofatso Mabasa.

A late free kick for the visitors could have put them back in front with the final whistle fast approaching. Substitute midfielder Kabelo Dlamini however directed his effort over the crossbar.

This was followed by a tense finish as the hosts looked to complete their comeback, but the Buccaneers managed to survive a shaky period towards the end to maintain a stalemate they would have wished to convert into a crucial victory on the road.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen, Mako (Dlamini 64’), Makhaula (Kimvuidi 87’), Mbatha (Rasebotja 73’), Nkota (Gilberto 64’), Mofokeng, Hotto, Makgopa (Mabasa 64’).

A Tale of Similarities

Like Orlando Pirates, Stade d’Abidjan earned their spot in the Champions League as runners-up in their domestic league, finishing behind champions San-Pedro. But the similarities don’t end there.Though not as recognised as their neighbors and rivals, ASEC Mimosas, Stade d’Abidjan, affectionately known as Les Yèyès, boast a rich history.

Formed in 1938 under the name ASFIF Abidjan, they share a similar age group to the Buccaneers. Their crowning achievement came in 1966 when they lifted the CAF Champions League. They returned to the continental showpiece in 1967 and 1970, but only went as far as the Quarterfinals on both occasions.

Current Campaign

Fast forward to the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign, and Stade d’Abidjan find themselves in a challenging position. They sit at the bottom of Group C after back-to-back losses against Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad respectively.

While their form may suggest an easier outing for the Buccaneers, Head Coach José Riveiro has warned his players about underestimating their opponents, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by the Ivorian side.

Recent Form: W – D – L – L – L

Stade d’Abidjan have endured a tough run, losing their last three competitive matches. They suffered a 4-2 defeat to Al Ahly in the Champions League, a 2-0 loss to Bouaké in Ligue 1, and most recently, a narrow 1-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad. Head Coach Alexandre Lafitte will approach Saturday’s match knowing anything less than a win could all but dash their chances of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition .

Tactical Overview
Different Tactical Styles

Having faced North African teams like Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad, Pirates can expect a shift in tactical dynamics when facing a West African side like Stade d’Abidjan. While North African football often emphasizes tactical discipline, set-piece proficiency, and structured play, West African teams are renowned for their intensity, individual flair, and physicality.

The region has produced globally celebrated talents like Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast), Gervinho (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) to name a few.

Key Threats
One-on-One Dribblers

Positional play has dominated modern football, thanks to coaches like Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, who have revolutionized the game with their view on the game. Cruyff started it but Guardiola has gone on to perfect the concept that focuses on prioritizing space manipulation. However, in countries like Ivory Coast, the art of the one-on-one dribbler remains alive. Two Stade d’Abidjan players rank among the Top 5 dribblers in this season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League:

1. Tayeb Meziani (MC Alger): 14 dribbles
2. Pacome Zouzoua (Young Africans): 14
3. Oscar Kabwit (TP Mazembe): 11
4. Sean-Jean Kore (Stade d’Abidjan): 9
5. Roger Assalé (Stade d’Abidjan): 8

For context, Orlando Pirates’ highest-ranking player in this metric is Relebohile Mofokeng with six. Additionally, Roger Assalé boasts a superior dribble success rate of 37.5% compared to Mofokeng’s 16.7%. At 31, Assalé brings valuable European experience, having played for clubs like Young Boys, Leganés, and Dijon.

Trigger Happy

While Kore’s dribbling success rate is modest (11%), his impact is felt in his shooting. The 26-year-old forward ranks second in shots taken (7) in the competition, trailing only Ibrahim Adel of Pyramids FC. By comparison, Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng have taken four shots each but have played only one match apiece.

The Conductor

Often overlooked, the pivot role is critical in controlling a team’s tempo. Stade d’Abidjan’s 32-year-old Essis Aka is their orchestrator, ranking among the Top Five carriers in the Champions League. The role of the pivot is one that doesn’t get much attention. Often the focus is on the attacking players .

The recent Ballon D’or that went to Rodri created a lot of debate. With many arguing that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jnr was robbed. However if there was a reason to motivate the justification for Rodri’s case. Take a look at his clubs record before his injury and post. Prior to his injury City went 74 games undefeated and post his injury- the rest his history.

Coming back to Essis Aka. The Ivorian’s have their own Conductor of sorts. He is the one who controls the tempo and rhythm of his side. In the Champions League so far the 32 year old ranks in the Top Five terms of Carries (excl defenders) with 82 carries over the two matches

1. Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns): 154
2. Marcelo Allende (Sundowns): 110
3. Lucas Ribeiro (Sundowns): 95
4. Marwan Attia (Al Ahly): 90
5. Essis Aka (Stade d’Abidjan): 82

Aka’s ability to dictate play will be pivotal for his teams side. Despite their position at the foot of Group C, Stade d’Abidjan remain a dangerous side, blending individual brilliance with collective resilience. For Orlando Pirates, focus and discipline will be key to securing maximum points and bolstering their ambitions in the competition.

After nearly a decade since their last encounter, the Buccaneers and the Red Devils locked horns in what was an eagerly-awaited clash. It was a battle for supremacy in their group after both sides had raced to claim the top two spots in the previous game week.

The sellout crowd was however made to wait before finding something to shout about with the first half consisting of very few real chances at either goal. Pirates’ efforts at making the most of their home-ground advantage met a determined effort from the visitors who strictly manned their defensive lines.

The hosts looked to break them off through a succession of set pieces as the break approached. They were however unable to make the most of their chances as the defending champions managed to see out the storm.

A few close calls fell to Pirates moments before the break. Both were from Monnapule Saleng who fired inches wide with a speculative shot from outside the penalty area before knocking the ball straight to Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy after he released inside the box.

He continued to take the game to the North Africans in the second half when he managed to find a way past El Shenawy, who had left his line to attempt a save. The scoreboard was however unaffected with the shot from the Bucs attacker lacking the necessary power to cause any significant problems.

This set the tone for a second period played with more lively tempo as the Buccaneers swiftly made their way deep into opposition territory 10 minutes after the restart. This attack led to a near miss from Thalente Mbatha who drove a shot at goal from outside the box, missing the target by mere inches.

Despite the evident shift in pace at both ends of the field, the two keepers remained largely spared from pressure. They each had to make a pretty straightforward stop with Pirates shot stopper Sipho Chaine equal to the task following an Al Ahly set piece while El Shenawy was also comfortable in dealing with an attempt from Evidence Makgopa.

Bucs attacker Relebohile Mofokeng did manage to make the Egyptian international sweat after the hour mark when he got on the end of a cross from Deon Hotto. There was however no change to the scoreline as the experienced keeper managed to keep out the youngster’s effort.

A desperate search for a late winner saw the visitors sparking a few opportunities for themselves in the game’s dying moments. The best of these came from replacement midfielder Hussein El Shahat who was able to connect with one inside the Buccaneers’ penalty area, forcing Chaine to his right as he produced a crucial save with not much time left on the clock.

The contest continued at a frantic pace with the final whistle just moments away, but the home side failed to connect inside the attacking third while Chaine kept them in it with another important stop from a set piece. No goals were forthcoming in the end as the two sides completed their third Champions League stalemate at Orlando Stadium.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Mako, Makhaula (Timm 81’), Mbatha (Dlamini 81’), Mofokeng, Saleng, Hotto (Nkota 69’), Makgopa (Mabasa 69’).

It promises to be another thrilling chapter in a list of key battles between two sides that have previously lifted the biggest trophy in African club football. The Egyptians head into the encounter as defending champions, having recently bagged a record 12th title, while the home side look to strengthen their challenge for a second triumph in the prestigious competitions.

Form Guide

Both sides had a winning start to their group stage campaign and currently occupy the top two spots in Group C. The Red Devils are higher up in the standings after beating Ivorian outfit Stade d’Abidjan 4-2 in Cairo to go clear on goal difference.

They played to league stalemates on either side of their clash against the West African outfit, drawing 1-1 at home against Al Ittihad before earning another league point in a goalless stalemate away to National Bank. Their two recent Premier League results are among the very few blemishes to their season thus far, following a near-perfect start where they added another Egyptian Super Cup title plus a CAF Super Cup triumph to their glowing trophy cabinet.

Al Ahly now head into the match against Pirates unbeaten in their five most recent outings, where they have claimed three victories along with their two league draws. They take on a side determined to bounce back from a disappointing result in their last fixture.

Following a remarkable 2-1 win away to CR Belouizdad in their Group C opener, the Buccaneers slumped to a narrow defeat at home to domestic rivals Stellenbosch last Sunday. It was their first loss in the league this season and resulted in them dropping from first to second place in the standings.  It also ended a streak of five straight victories and was their second home defeat across competitions this season.

Like the visiting North Africans, the Soweto Giants have had a taste of cup success in the 2024/25 campaign. They will be eager to enhance their chances of claiming the biggest prize available to them this season by producing a performance that will place them in pole position for a spot in the knockouts.

Team News

There have been some key absentees throughout the season in both camps. Midfield pair Karim Nedved and Karim Fouad are both yet to feature for the visitors since the start of the ongoing campaign, while Egyptian international Emam Ashour could return after a short suspension.

Pirates have had similar injury issues, with the likes of Zakhele Lepasa and Goodman Mosele still on the mend. Coach Jose Riveiro has however confirmed  that he has up to 36 fit squad members at his disposal, and the number includes players such as Thabiso Lebitso and Sandile Mthethwa who have been working their way back to match fitness over the past few weeks.

Players to Watch

With vast Champions League experience, Taher Mohamed will be one of the key men for the visitors as he comes into the clash in good form. The winger has had a hand in crucial goals in domestic and continental football, along with Palestinian international forward Wessam Abou Ali.

Bafana international forward Percy Tau is also among their notable goal-scoring threats while the Egyptians boast a number of reliable impact players elsewhere on the field in the likes of fullback Yahya Allah – a solid presence at both ends of the pitch. Experienced shot-stopper Mohammed El-Shenawy leads from between the sticks and has kept clean sheets in five of his nine club appearances this season.

Head-to-Head

Drawn in the same group for the first time since the 2013 edition of the Champions League where they eventually went on to contest the final, Pirates and Al Ahly are well acquainted. They have met a total of six times with the majority of their clashes occurring in the knockout stages of the two major continental interclub tournaments.

The Buccaneers currently sport a comfortable lead in terms of head-to-head results with three wins to the Red Devils’ solitary victory, which sealed the 2013 title. Things are a lot tighter as far as the Champions League is concerned with each side boasting a single win in their four matches.

The Soweto Giants are yet to claim a home victory against the Egyptians in the continents’ premier club competition, with their only triumph at Orlando Stadium coming in the 2015 Confed Cup semifinals where they secured a win in each of the two legs.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 15:00 and the match will be broadcast on SABC 3, SuperSport Variety 4 (209) while a live stream is also available on SABC+ . You can also keep up with the action by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the match are sold out.

The next closest clubs, TP Mazembe and Zamalek, have five titles each. Orlando Pirates, though absent from the continental showpiece in recent seasons, boast a rich history in this competition when it comes to clashes between these two sides. Meetings between the Buccaneers and Al Ahly have often been tightly contested and judging by the form of both teams in their opening matches, fans on opposite ends of the continent can expect another thrilling encounter.

Both teams currently sit on three points after their respective opening fixtures. Pirates earned a hard-fought 2-1 away victory against CR Belouizdad, while Al Ahly emerged as 4-2 victors against Stade d’Abidjan. As we gear up for this weekend’s encounter, here is an in-depth look at what the Mighty Buccaneers can expect on Saturday.

Head-to-Head

With Al Ahly topping the table on goal difference, Orlando Pirates could seize first place with a victory. Historically, the head-to-head record between these teams has been closely contested. Out of six encounters, the Buccaneers have claimed three wins, with two draws, while Al Ahly have managed just one victory—a significant one at that.

The two sides contested the 2013 CAF Champions League Final over two legs. The first leg, held at Orlando Stadium, ended in a 1-1 draw. In the second leg, the Red Devils, as they are affectionately known, secured a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika. Despite the scoreline, the match was tightly contested, with the Buccaneers squandering key opportunities in the first half that could have altered the outcome of the match.

Current Form (Last 5 Matches): W–W-D-W-D

Al Ahly are a team that competes on many fronts. They don’t only compete in the Caf Champions League and the Egyptian Premier league. Over the past month and a half, the reigning champions have also participated in the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup. Of their last five competitive matches, Marcel Koller’s men have won three times and drawn twice. Scoring 11 goals and conceding 5 goals.

Key Players

Emam Ashour (26 Years Old)

If Emam Ashour features in the match on Saturday, then there is no doubt that that he will be one of the key players for the visitors. We use the word “if” because the 26-year-old has struggled with disciplinary issues off the field.

Recently, the midfielder was suspended after clashing with the team captain. However, if recent reports are anything to go by, Ashour will be part of the traveling contingent after apologising to his teammates for his misdemeanour.

Yahya Allah (29 Years Old)

The Moroccan international is currently on loan at Ahly from Russian club Socci. He is a very competent full back who provides the additional attacking threat with his marauding runs down the left flank. Yahya, along with his teammate Khaled Fattah who plays right full back, are key in providing width for Ahly to allow the likes of El Shahat and Taher Mohamed to tuck in and play in the half spaces.

Hussein El Shahat (32 Years Old)

Although El Shahat has had a slow start to the season, his quality and influence in the attack are undeniable. Playing as a right-footed attacker on the left flank, he benefits from the overlapping runs of Yahya Allah, giving him the freedom to cut inside and create scoring opportunities. El Shahat has a reputation for delivering crucial goals when it matters most.

Strengths
• Defensive Fortress

Sir Alex Ferguson once famously said: “Attack wins you games but defence wins you titles”, this statement cannot be any truer for Al Ahly. The defending champions, are miserly in defence and that is hugely due to the experience of the defence. Anchored by the experienced El Shenawy in goal and the central defensive pairing of Ramy Rabia and Yasser Ibrahim, the Red Devils are a tough nut to crack. Notably, they navigated the knockout stages of the 2023 CAF Champions League without conceding a single goal. This season, the only blemish has been the two goals conceded against Stade d’Abidjan.

• Game Management

Al Ahly’s primary strength lies in their ability to read the game and focus on securing the result.Ordinarily,the Red Devils prefer a dominant possession focused style of play. Their midfielders, such as Ashour, Mohamed Magdy and Marwan Attia, are skilled at maintaining control of the ball, dictating the pace of the game, and creating opportunities for their forwards.

This ability to control the game through possession puts constant pressure on their opponents and minimises the time the opposition has to mount their own attacks. However, due to the maturity of the team – often, when Ahly plays away, the team opts for a more cautious approach which includes slowing down the game, breaking play and sometimes a transitional type of game.

Having had to wait until late on the weekend to take to the field, the Buccaneers had relinquished their position at the top to Mamelodi Sundowns who edged them on goal difference after victory on Saturday. They came up against a Stellenbosch side that had dropped from fourth place to fifth after the weekend’s earlier fixtures.

The big crowd that had turned out at Orlando had a few reasons to get up from their seats early on in the contest as the hosts swiftly took control of the contest. Patrick Maswanganyi and Deon Hotto both had chances inside the opening 10 minutes as the Buccaneers carved the visitors open, but neither one of them could find the decisive touch.

Further opportunities fell to Relebohile Mofokeng, whose curling effort from outside the box landed inches wide, as well as Mohau Nkota who managed to draw a save from Stellies goalkeeper Sage Stephens after freeing himself from the attention of two defenders and unleashing a shot.

Pirates’ inability to capitalise from their early dominance came back to haunt them moments after the half-hour mark when the visitors managed to stretch their defence through a counter. Devin Titus found himself unmarked out on the left and had no trouble making the most of what was a rare opportunity as he finished past Sipho Chaine to put his side ahead.

A lapse in concentration from Stephens late in the first half gave Pirates a chance to draw level. This was when the shot stopper handled a back pass, resulting in an indirect free kick inside the box for the hosts. It was taken by Mofokeng who teed up Maswanganyi, but the Bucs midfielder fired well over the crossbar from close range.

The home side’s struggles continued in the second half as the team from the Winelands committed numbers at the back. Chances were few and far between until after the hour mark when the Soweto Giants managed to conjure up a few close calls.

The first of these fell to Thalente Mbatha, who managed to get a hold of one well outside the box but could only direct his attempt into the side netting. Replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini went even closer in the 65th minute when he collected a pass from Maswanganyi before striking the crossbar.

An excellent save from Chaine late in the contest spared the Buccaneers some blushes as he kept out a firmly-struck shot from Khomotjo Lekoloane.

With only injury time left to navigate, Pirates were gifted a golden opportunity to draw level. This was when Tshegofatso Mabasa produced a clever back heel inside the box following a corner kick, freeing up Nkosinathi Sibisi whose snap-shot from point-blank range found its way into Stephens’ arms.

A final, desperate surge into opposition territory yielded a corner for the hosts, who could not capitalise as the visitors dealt with the threat. That moment summed up an unhappy outing for the Soweto Giants, whose winning streak across competitions was cut to five victories.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Monyane (Van Rooyen 68’), Hotto, Makhaula (Dlamini 46’), Mbatha (Kimvuidi 77’), Nkota, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Makgopa (Mabasa 68’)

It’s “take two” of a highly anticipated Soweto Derby which was unfortunately called off earlier in the month.

Potentially dangerous weather conditions in and around Soweto forced the rescheduling of the fixture. The two rivals now get the opportunity to thrill the spectators one last time in 2024 as the Reserve League heads to a hiatus.

Form Guide

The fixture postponement, along with a bye in the previous game week, has resulted in two weeks of inactivity for the young Buccaneers. Not being able to add to their points tally has seen them drop down to eighth place in the standings, widening the gap between themselves and the summit of the table.

Their last completed fixture was a 1-1 stalemate at home to Richards Bay, taking their tally in the five most recent outings to 10 out of an available 15 points. Nine of their points came through wins against Lamontville Golden Arrows, Chippa United and Stellenbosch, while a home defeat to SuperSport United set them back significantly in their pursuit for top spot.

Billed as the away team in the derby, Pirates are determined to maintain their decent record on the road after bagging maximum points on three out of five attempts away from home, losing just once. It promises to be no easy task however against a side that is yet to taste defeat at home.

Chiefs Reserves also go into the clash with the advantage of having been involved in another big fixture over the past weekend when they played to an entertaining 2-2 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns. The point earned from the encounter kept them in the hunt for the title as they sit in third place, five points behind the log-leading Stellenbosch. It also stretched their unbeaten run, which now stands at seven games where they have won four and drawn three.

Head-to-Head

Pirates were unable to secure a win across two Soweto Derby fixtures last season when they played to a one-all stalemate in the earlier game before going down 2-0 in their home leg. The latter result ended a two-year spell where the Bucs Reserves had a clear upper hand in the rivalry with two wins and no defeats in the four games played during that period.

Despite their recent struggles, the Buccaneers still maintain a slight edge over their rivals, having collected three victories to Amakhosi’s two in the last seven meetings between the two sides.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Kaizer Chiefs
The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL (Channel 202) and La Liga (Channel 204). Fans can also follow live updates on Orlando Pirates’ official social media channels. Entry to the match venue is free.

Dreams have the power to inspire and uplift but they can also be shadowed by nightmares that threaten to derail them. The Nkota story is a dream realised, and a nightmare overcome.

As the 20-year-old sprinted to the corner flag to celebrate his second goal with his teammates last night, the joy on his face, was that of a boy realising a dream coming true.However, few know that his journey was almost abruptly cut short earlier this year.

On March 24, 2024, Mohau’s career and future hung in the balance. While playing for the Pirates Diski Challenge squad in Tsakane against Kaizer Chiefs, the Kimberly-born attacker suffered a devastating neck injury which saw him being rushed to the hospital.

Nkota faced an agonising wait of uncertainty. Doctors were unsure of the extent of the injury but the symptoms he was displaying were not positive.

Club employee Thabang Lepule, who was bedside with Nkota throughout the entire ordeal recalls: “While we were waiting for the results to come out, Mohau was visibly distraught. Asking questions like, “Am I going to play again? “Is my career over? “It can’t end like this surely.”

“It was so tough because I could see that the boy was dreading the worst. We didn’t know if he would fully recover, let alone return to the sport he loved”, concluded Lepule.”

As for Mohau, he said: “It was one of the toughest moments of my life. I had recently started training with the first team, and I believe at DDC I was playing some of my best football.

“The injury came at the worst time possible. Here I am about to become a professional player, and this happens. During my 4 to 5 hours wait at the hospital, I had many thoughts coming into my head but fortunately through God’s grace, I overcame my situation.

“My return to playing was slow and taxing on me mentally because I had long dizzy spells and constant headaches.”

Slowly but surely, he fought his way back onto the pitch, defying expectations and proving that his spirit was as strong as his talent.

Fast-forward to today, the name Mohau Nkota is on the lips of the hordes of the Mighty Buccaneers supporters after his impressive display in Algeria last night.

“It’s hard to put into words what this means to me,” Nkota said after the game, visibly emotional. “To score twice in such an important match is a dream come true. I’m just so grateful for everyone who believed in me and for this incredible club.”

The youngster is slowly endearing himself to the Ghost with his performances. With only seven games into his professional career, Nkota has already notched up four goals to his name.

The Soweto Giants benefitted from a clinical first-half performance which gave them a handy lead ahead of a spirited fight back from the hosts in the second period. It is a win that places them second in their group, tied on points with Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

They had to do it in front of an intimidating crowd in Algiers, but were largely unfazed as they burst out of the gates with confidence and control. It only took five minutes to strike as Relebohile Mofokeng positioned himself perfectly to collect a loose ball from the edge of the box before freeing Mohau Nkota, who coolly slotted home the opener to give his side a dream start.

The home side looked to hit back and were twice denied by defender Nkosinathi Sibisi. Their best chance in the opening exchanges was thwarted by a brilliant double save from goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who kept out a stinging shot from range before dealing with Islam Slimani’s effort from a rebound.

Nkota had an opportunity to double his tally on the night just eight minutes after bagging his first, but could only draw a save from the onrushing Belouizdad goalkeeper Moustafa Zeghba. Pirates managed to revive the attack from the rebound, resulting in another close call, this time from Patrick Maswanganyi who sent his shot narrowly wide.

The youngster’s second did eventually come, and it arrived in spectacular fashion when he connected with Mofokeng once more before unleashing a stunner of a shot which evaded the outstretched Zeghba.

Trailing by two, the home side intensified their efforts to get back in the game and could have pulled one back after the half-hour mark as Slimani got a sniff at the Bucs goal, only to poke his shot over the crossbar. The home team had another chance just before the break as Housseyn Selmi darted across field from the left before placing his effort inches wide.

Zeghba was called on early in the second half as he dealt with a diagonal ball from Thalente Mbatha, who looked to further extend the visitors’ lead in the 48th minute. However, most of the goalmouth action after the break occurred in the visitors’ half where replacement forwards Khanyisa Mayo and Aimen Mahious constantly threatened.

The Reds eventually found their breakthrough, and it came via the former Cape Town City men who headed in from close range to make it 2-1. The goal gave the Algerians a jolt of confidence as they continued to bear down on the visitors’ goal.

Pirates had the rare foray deep into opposition territory without creating any clear-cut chances. They mainly had to man their defensive lines amid relentless approaches from Belouizdad who were looking to salvage a point at home.

The equaliser was not forthcoming however as the Soweto Giants restricted the hosts to just a single goal, getting off to a perfect start with three points on the road.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane,Monyane (Van Rooyen 76’), Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha (Dlamini 76’), Nkota (Rasebotja 88’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng (Mako 67’), Makgopa (Mabasa 88’).

However, not the first time that Orlando Pirates face a team from Algeria.The Buccaneers have played against four different teams from that part of the world and in those seven encounters, the Soweto Giants have recorded three wins, three draws and one loss – scoring seven times and conceding three in the process.

Year Opposition Result Competition

1996 JS Kabylie 1-0 Super Cup Final
1997 USM Alger 1-2 Champions Cup
USM Alger 1-1 Champions Cup
2021 ES Setif 0-0 Confederation Cup
ES Setif 0-0 Confederation Cup
2022 JS Saoura 2-0 Confederation Cup
JS Saoura 2-0 Confederation Cup

North Versus South

Whenever clubs from Southern tip of the African continent meet teams from the North – fireworks are guaranteed. From the electric atmospheres created by passionate home fans to the contrasting styles of play, these matchups are often captivating.

Northern teams are known for their high-intensity, aggressive approach, while South African teams rely on speed and flair. This contrast sets the stage for a tactically intriguing contest, especially for football purists.

To offer deeper insight into these encounters, orlandopiratesfc.com introduces the Opposition Analysis feature for the Buccaneers’ CAF Champions League campaign.
Here, we dissect and analyse each opponent in detail.

Team on the Mend

Current Form (Last 5 Matches): D-L-D-L–W-W

CR Belouizdad, affectionately known as The Reds, had a challenging start to their Algerian Premier League campaign but seem to have turned a corner with back-to-back league wins. These victories have provided a much-needed boost ahead of their Group Stage opener against Orlando Pirates. The Club recently parted ways with head coach Corentin Martins after a winless run in their first four league matches. His replacement, the highly experienced Abdelkader Amrani, has overseen four games so far, achieving two wins, one draw, and one loss.

Key Players

Islam Sliman (36 Years Old)
Despite his age, Sliman remains a key figure for CR Belouizdad. His recent performance in their 3-1 win over MC Alger demonstrated his enduring quality. Standing at 1.88m, Sliman has a wealth of experience from European football, having played for Sporting CP, Leicester City, Newcastle United, and Monaco, among others.

In six league games this season, he has scored three goals, averaging 0.50 goals per game — a rate matched only by Monnapule Saleng and Evidence Makgopa.*
*league only

Abdelraouf Benguit (28 Years Old)
The Algerian midfielder is the heartbeat of CR Belouizdad. Known for his fiery temperament, Benguit combines technical proficiency with composure and provides direction to his team. He has scored three goals in six league games, an impressive return for a midfielder. His ability to draw fouls is also a significant asset, particularly in the physical battles typical of North African football.

Abderrahmane Meziane (30 Years Old)
While Meziane is yet to score in Ligue 1 this season, his influence on the left flank cannot be overlooked. A versatile winger, Meziane excels at cutting inside onto his stronger foot, often creating opportunities for his teammates. He is a tricky customer who must not be allowed to settle into the game.

Strengths

Transitions and Wing Play
• CR Belouizdad excel in quick transitions.
• Most of their attacks originate from the flanks, driven by their wingbacks.
• Sliman serves as the focal point, holding up play effectively in transitions but also being at the end of attacks in the box.
• They pose a significant aerial threat in the box, with Sliman leading the charge.

Set-Pieces
• CR Belouizdad are formidable from set-pieces.
• Players like Sliman, Keddad, and Hadded require close marking during corners and free kicks around the box.

The much-anticipated fixture begins a crucial phase in the Buccaneers’ search for a second star on their crest as they aim to add to their remarkable 1995 triumph. They’re up against a Belouizdad outfit that has become a regular feature in the group stage as well as the knockout rounds of the prestigious continental championship in recent years.

Form Guide

Pirates’ journey to the group stage has taken them to Madagascar and neighbouring Botswana. They defeated Malagasy champions Disciples in the opening preliminary round with all their four goals across the two legs of the tie coming in the decider at Orlando Stadium after the away leg finished goalless. They booked their spot in the groups with an impressive showing against Jwaneng Galaxy, who they defeated in each of the two legs of the final playoff round to go through with a 3-0 aggregate score.

A more testing challenge now awaits the Soweto Giants, who are coming off a lengthy break in action after last taking to the field earlier in the month when they claimed a narrowly league victory over Richards Bay. The result extended their winning streak to four matches, with their last defeat dating back to just after the previous international break when they exited the Carling Knockout Cup in the Round of 16.

Maintaining momentum will be key for the Buccaneers as they look for a crucial three points against a side that has overturned a string of disappointing results in their domestic league. Affectionately known as “The Reds”, the Algerians were in action against rivals MC Alger and secured the second of back-to-back league victories. They however remain in the bottom half of the standings, having endured a disappointing start to their campaign where they failed to get over the line in each of their six opening fixtures.

Outside Algerian shores, they saw off the challenge of Congo’s AC Léopards in the first preliminary round of the Champions League before narrowly defeating Senegalese outfit Douanes in a tie that had to be settled by penalties after each side posted a 1-0 in their respective home legs.

Much like the Buccaneers, they will be determined to get off to a good start as they look to get an edge in what promises to be one of the most fiercely-contested in the current edition of the prestigious tournament.

Team News

The visitors welcomed eight internationals back to camp following the recent international break, and have been further boosted by the return of key players from injury. Deano van Rooyen, Makhehlene Makhaula and Thuso Moleleki have all travelled to Algeria after brief spells on the injury list and will all be in contention for spots in the match-day squad.

For the hosts, it could be another fixture without the services of striker Merouane Zerrouki who has been out since early October after picking up a knock in a league stalemate away to Biskra.

Players to Watch

Former Newcastle United and Leicester City forward Islam Slimani provides vital experience up front for Belouizdad and comes into the fixture in good form after netting three times in seven league appearances this season. He is expected to captain the side, while fellow forward Khanyisa Mayo’s familiarity with the Buccaneers could prove valuable.

Algerian international Abdelraouf Benguit has also chipped in with a few goals from midfield and there’s experience and defensive stability provided by the likes of Chouaib Keddad and Mouad Hadded. Their goal is safeguarded by another seasoned campaigner in Toufik Moussaoui, who has started in all but two of their matches this season.

Head-to-Head

Tuesday’s match will unlock a new chapter in the two team’s history as they will be doing battle for the first time ever.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs CR Belouizdad

Kick-off is at 21:00, and the game will be broadcast live on SABC Sport and Supersport Channel 209. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the club’s social media platforms.

Jose Riveiro and his technical team will need every player available during this intense period, as the clash against the Algerian giants marks the first of a demanding 21 days. It’s a challenging schedule by any standard, but there is some encouraging news from the Bucs’ medical department.

Updates on the squad’s fitness could provide a crucial boost as the team navigates this testing phase of the season.

The medical team has provided the following updates:

Players who have returned to full training:
• Tapelo Xoki
• Sandile Mthethwa
• Deano Van Rooyen
• Makhehlene Makhaula
• Thabiso Lebitso
• Thuso Moleleki
• Ethan Visagie

Players currently undergoing rehabilitation:
• Goodman Mosele
• Zakhele Lepasa
• Olisa Ndah

The trip to North Africa is not only a tough assignment for the 1995 champions, but an opportunity to signal intent as they return to the competition for the first time since 2019. They have been drawn in a tricky group that also features record winners and reigning champs Al Ahly of Egypt as well as Ivorian giants Stade d’Abidjan.

At the forefront of the Mighty Buccaneers’ immediate priorities will be mapping out a plan to topple their first Algerian opposition in the Champions League in nearly 30 years. Their last run-in with a team from the desert nation came in 1997 when they encountered USM Alger over two legs in what was a disappointing campaign where they exited in the group stage.

The current crop of Bucs players will however not be too unfamiliar with Algerian opposition as a few of the long-serving squad members were present in CAF Confederation Cup fixtures against ES Setif and JS Saoura, all played between 2020 and 2021.

Nevertheless, the team coached by the vastly experienced Abdelkader Amrani boasts a unique challenge as they are well-versed in the skills required to navigate this crucial stage of the competition. They have advanced into the knockout stages in three of their last four forays into the groups and will be looking to move past their recent disappointment in the tournament where they fell short of the quarterfinals.

For Belouizdad, hosting the Soweto Giants presents a welcome break from domestic competition following a tough start to the season as they find themselves way short of their usual territory in 10th place on the Algerian Ligue 1 table. This is after managing only a couple of victories in 10 attempts. They are expected to put on a determined display on home turf against an in-form Buccaneers side searching for a vital win to kick off their campaign.

Pirates arrived in Algeria this afternoon ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, which gets underway at 21:00 (South African Standard Time) on Tuesday.

It’s a fitting show-stopper to this month’s festival, closing out the 12th week of this season’s Reserve League action. The Buccaneers are billed as the away team in what is expected to be an intense battle featuring the two most iconic names in South African football.

Head-to-Head

The Derby follows a week of mixed results for the two rivals, who both occupy spots in the top half of the DDC table. Chiefs were the happier of the two after putting on a commanding display on the road against Cape Town City to emerge with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

That result took them up to second place in the standings, level on points with the table topping Stellenbosch with a game in hand. It was also their third win on the trot and a continuation of an impressive run that has seen them go unbeaten in their last six fixtures where they have won four and drawn the other two.

They now host a Pirates side that has endured a mixed bag of results over the same period, winning just half of their last six games while losing once and playing to two stalemates. Their most recent draw came in their last outing where they had to share the spoils with Richards Bay at home, with the game finishing with the two sides level at 1-1.

Due to the dropped points, the young Buccaneers went from fifth place to seventh in the DDC table. They are however within touching distance of top spot, with only four points keeping them from the summit.

Three more against their fiercest rivals will put them even closer, but they will face a stiff challenge against an in-form side also eyeing the top.

Head-to-Head

Chiefs secured bragging rights from the last Soweto Derby, courtesy of two unanswered goals which sealed a 2-0 victory. This helped them finish the season unbeaten against their rivals after a 1-1 draw in their earlier fixture where Mehluleli Maphumulo’s opening goal was cancelled out by Donay Jansen.

Prior to that, Pirates had enjoyed a dominant spell in the fixture, completing a league double in the 2022/23 campaign. They still maintain a slight upper hand despite the recent results, having won three of the last seven derbies with two defeats and two draws.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Kaizer Chiefs Reserves

The match kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL (202) and La Liga (204). Live updates will be shared across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.

Entry at the match venue is free.

This win extended the Mighty Buccaneers’ flawless start in the Betway Premiership, to an impressive seven consecutive victories, marking a historic evening for both club and coach. 

All Eyes on Me 

An old saying: don’t judge a book by its cover. Yet, in football, the reverse often rings true. Football has a propensity to judge people too quickly. A person like Jose was judged before even setting foot on the pitch. 

On June 25, 2022, when Orlando Pirates announced Jose Riveiro as their new coach, opinions poured in from pundits and fans alike, and many were prematurely critical. 

Riveiro found himself scrutinised and even undermined by fellow contemporaries who even took the time to throw cryptic snide remarks at the mention of his appointment.

However, rather than being weighed down by these detractors, Jose chose to focus on the task at hand. Occupying his time and efforts to building a body of work worth noting.

His journey has transformed the scepticism into admiration, proving that patience and hard work conquers all.

Record Breaker

With his success on Tuesday night, Riveiro has firmly etched his name in Orlando Pirates’ history books. 

At 100 games, he joins an elite rank, becoming only the second coach in the PSL era, after Ruud Krol (119 games), to reach this milestone with the club. 

Not only did Pirates secure three points, but they also set a new club record, surpassing the previous high of six consecutive league wins – a record that had stood since the 2002/03 season. The seven consecutive league victories not only add another feather to his cap but sets a new standard for the club.

The 47-year-old has won five trophies in his two and a half years at the club, which makes him the most decorated Pirates coach in the PSL era (since 1996), but also equalling the record of the most titles by a coach with the club since Tony Sanderson (1973/74).

Even on a personal level, Jose has broken new ground. 

At his former club, Inter Turku, Jose steered his side to 56 wins from 102 matches – giving him a win percentage of 55%. With Pirates – Jose now sits on 61 wins which gives him 61% win rate.

Goals For:

Pirates – 178 goals
Inter Turku – 164 goals  

Goals Against:

Pirates – 82 goals
Inter Turku – 109 goals

Riveiro’s milestone isn’t just a celebration of his longevity but a testament to his resilience, vision, and determination to defy the odds. 

Through his leadership, he has shaped Orlando Pirates into a force to be reckoned with, inspiring fans and making his mark on South African football.

It only took a solitary goal in the first half for the Buccaneers to seal maximum points on their return to home soil. The result took their points tally to 21 points, their best return at this stage of the season in the PSL era.

Their return to Soweto came seven days after a successful league voyage to Mpumalanga and proved to be a tricky tussle against Richards Bay outfit fresh off a morale-boosting cup win over the weekend. The visitors were quick off the blocks and spent a considerable amount of time inside Bucs territory, mainly attacking through set pieces as they cleverly drew fouls in the opposition half.

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine however remained largely untroubled as his defence held firm. The first real shot of the game at the opposite end through Thalente Mbatha who went for goal in the 19th minute with a trademark long range effort that was deflected out.

More shots flew in towards the Natal Rich Boyz’ goal from range, with Patrick Maswanganyi misplacing his attempt in the 25th minute. Thabiso Monyane found goalkeeper Ian Otieno’s gloves with a venomous shot from outside the box a minute later, leading to the breakthrough for the hosts.

It was striker Evidence Makgopa who provided the decisive touch as he appeared at the right place at the right time to latch onto the rebound before finding the net from close range.

The Buccaneers maintained their intensity despite edging in front and nearly went two ahead in the 33rd minute when another long-range attempt from Mbatha was kept out by Otieno. The Kenyan international was called upon once more just seconds later, this time making an easy save off Mohau Nkota who could not get enough behind his shot after he was released by Relebohile Mofokeng.

His next save was nowhere near routine as he was forced into an acrobatic stop by a seemingly goalbound attempt from Monyane, who went for goal from a long way out. Nkota and Thabiso Sesane each went close on the stroke of halftime, but the visitors were able to limit their deficit to just one goal by the time the players headed back into the tunnel.

Having finished the first period fully in control, Pirates began the second half as they ended the previous one with a close attempt from Makgopa who went narrowly wide after linking up with Nkota. The teenage attacker then drew a save from Otieno with a shot of his own in the 54th minute, which was followed by an off-target effort from replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini.

It remained one-way traffic for much of the second half as defender Nkosinathi Sibisi also got in on the action with a header from close range, kept out by the Natal Rich Boyz shot-stopper.

Starved of chances at goal, Richards Bay’s debutant midfielder Lindokuhle Zikhali looked to manufacture a dream first league appearance with a speculative shot near the halfway line after spotting Chaine a few yards away from his goal. His attempt was however comfortably off target.

Otieno pulled off two late saves late in the contest, denying Monnapule Saleng before keeping out a header from Tshegofatso Mabasa. There was no further drama as the home side saw out the remaining minutes to continue their remarkable start to the 2024/25 season.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Monyane, Hotto, Makhaula (Dlamini 46’), Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Nkota (Saleng 74’), Mofokeng (Mako 90+2’), Makgopa (Mabasa 74’).

It’s the final league fixture before the upcoming international break for the Buccaneers, who are looking to further strengthen their grip on top spot. They face a determined Richards Bay outfit eyeing a move up the table after a tough start to the campaign.

Form Guide

The home side enters this game with an unblemished league record, having won all six of their fixtures so far. Fresh from a solid 2-0 victory away to TS Galaxy, they’ve managed to keep the pressure on second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, maintaining a three-point lead.

Pirates have been solid at both ends of the pitch this season, averaging two goals per match while showcasing a rock-solid defence that has only been breached twice. Three additional points will guarantee that they secure their hold on the top of the standings prior to the break, while also sealing their best start to the league campaign in the PSL era.

Standing between them and a seventh straight win is a Richards Bay side that will take some degree of confidence to the fixture. The KwaZulu-Natal team recently battled their way to the Carling Knockout Cup semifinals, edging out Cape Town City in a tense penalty shootout after 120 minutes of goalless action.

This was however only their second win in all competitions this season, with their only other triumph coming in the opening weekend of Premiership action. The Natal Rich Boyz have since managed to pick two points from their next five league matches, falling on the losing side three times to land in 12th place.

Having narrowly escaped the axe last season, they have a chance to begin their ascent into safety early on this term. This will require a drastic change in their luck in front of goal, as they head into the showdown with the Buccaneers with none scored in open play in their six most recent games.

Team News

Striker Yanela Mbuthuma is not available for selection as he sits out the second game of his two-match ban after picking up a red card in the league defeat against Sekhukhune United. He is one of two players suspended for the clash after midfielder Langelihle Mhlongo also received his marching orders over the weekend.

There are no suspension worries for the Buccaneers ahead of the clash. However, new signing Deano van Rooyen could miss out once more as he continues his recovery after picking up an injury against AmaZulu at Orlando Stadium.

Key Players

Makhehlene Makhaula (Orlando Pirates): One of the unsung heroes in the Bucs setup, Makhaula has enjoyed a more prominent role in the team over the past year. The midfielder has been key in maintaining control in the centre of the park while also thwarting the opposition’s efforts at launching attacks.

Somila Ntsundwana (Richards Bay): With a knack for troubling defences, Ntsundwana has often stepped up on big occasions and will look to deliver another top performance against the Buccaneers. Primarily deployed on the left wing but versatile enough to cover various attacking positions, Ntsundwana’s directness and eye for goal make him one of the visitors’ key attacking components.

Head-to-Head

Pirates will look to seal a league double early in the season when they clash with Richards Bay. The KZN outfit is among the six teams to have suffered defeat at the hands of the Soweto Giants, who earned a hard-fought 1-0 win at King Zwelithini Stadium in September with Kabelo Dlamini providing the game’s only goal.

That result created a bit of daylight between the two sides in terms of head-to-head results, with the Buccaneers slightly edging it with two wins in their five league encounters while the Natal Rich Boyz boast a single win.

Victory at Orlando Stadium has so far eluded the hosts, however. Their first home league fixture against Tuesday’s opponents finished goalless and was followed by an upset defeat towards the end of last season when Sanele Barns’ first-half strike handed the visitors all three points.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

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

Tickets are available online on TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.

The game played at Malta Park featured a spirited second-half performance from the Bucs Reserves, who bounced back from the disappointment of their previous result to bag three crucial points on the road. They also ended a five-match winless run against the defending champions, who came into the fixture on the back of an excellent run of form.

Faced with the unenviable task of vanquishing the team from Winelands in their own backyard, the visitors had a few promising moments on attack early on. Lebo Mohlala was first to fire a shot on target, bringing out an excellent save from Dejean Ah Shene in the sixth minute. A similar result greeted Simphiwe Masilela two minutes later as he too could not find a way past the Stellies shot-stopper after linking up with Kabelo Moagi.

The home side’s first real attempt at the Pirates goal came through a free kick taken from just outside the box, which resulted in a shot that drifted narrowly off target. Bucs midfielder Kgwadi Molepo followed suit at the other end with an effort from range, which also went inches wide.

Some nervy moments at the back nearly allowed the hosts in for the opener in the first half, but the defensive pair of Nelson Ralenkoane and Mbekezeli Mbokazi stood were on hand to make some crucial interventions. Goalkeeper Bayanda Zulu also got into the action late in the second half, keeping out a shot from a free kick taken from just in front.

Pirates nearly had the final say in the opening period, following a powerful shot from Moagi, which was tipped over the bar by Ah Shene. Despite chances at both ends, the halftime whistle sounded with the two sides still deadlocked.

Level parity was however short-lived, as the young Maroons took the lead seconds after the restart through Quwan Plaatjies, who latched onto the rebound from an earlier shot from teammate Ethan Felix.

Pirates’ attempts at drawing level were rebuffed by Stellies, who conjured up some opportunities of their own with the woodwork coming to the visitors’ rescue on the hour mark. Mohlala went close two minutes later, but his shot was kept out by Ah Shene.

Movement from the bench proved to be the tonic needed by the Buccaneers, who brought on Aphelele Nzimande and Mehluleli Maphumulo in the 67th minute. The duo made an immediate impact as they combined to produce the equaliser just moments after coming on.

It was Maphumulo who provided the finishing touch as he met an excellent cross from Nzimande and calmly slotted home. This set up an intense finish to the contest, with things getting heated out in the middle.

The Soweto Giants’ toil paid off in the last minute when Maphumulo capped off his excellent cameo with his second goal of the morning, putting his side in the lead for the first time in the match. This left the visitors with a tricky few minutes of injury time to navigate, and they came out of it unscathed to seal a win that took them to just two points behind their hosts, who remain top of the standings.

Pirates XI: Zulu, Mbokazi, Ralenkoane,Selepe, Mhlambi (Maphumulo 67’), Molepo, Mohlala, Moagi, Mokoena (Dansin 90’), Masilela (Nzimande 67’), Msezane (Ngwenya 76’).

As the 10th game week of this season’s DDC action wraps up, two teams currently in the top half of the standings clash in a matchup known that has delivered some gripping contests in recent years.

Form Guide

It’s a tough assignment for the Bucs Reserves, who cross paths with the defending champions a week after a tough result at home. They lost 3-2 in their game against Gauteng rivals SuperSport United, their second defeat in the ongoing campaign.

This meant that they were unable to add to their 15 points earned through four wins and three draws in their previous fixtures. It was the latest result in what has been a few weeks of mixed results for Pirates, who have won just two of their last five games with a stalemate at home taking their tally to seven points during this period.

Having started the weekend in fifth place, they will be looking for a win that could place them two points of their hosts, who go into the clash sitting at the summit after nagging 20 points in their nine matches.

For Stellies, the showdown with the young Buccaneers comes amid a fruitful spell of results. A goalless stalemate away to Kaizer Chiefs left them two points short of a possible 15 in their last five games.

They have lost only once since the beginning of the season and will look to pull away from the chasing pack as they go in search of an unprecedented third title in the DDC.

Head-to-Head

The Bucs Reserves and their Maroons’ counterparts have had a few titanic tussles over the years. Close margins have decided the fixtures between the two sides, most recently in the previous campaign where the team from the Cape Winelands prevailed with a 1-0 scoreline in each of the two games played.

Victory has eluded the young Buccaneers since the 2021/22 season where Mpumelelo Ndaba’s second-half strike handed them a win away from home. This was avenged through a fighting comeback in the latter half of the same campaign when Jarred van de Burg and Devin Titus netted to hand their side the three points away from home after Ndumiso Ngiba had opened the scoring for the hosts.

In the last six games between the two sides, Stellenbosch have won three with Pirates bagging one victory, while two matches have finished in a share of the spoils. As a result, the reigning champions also lead the goal-scoring stakes with six scored and four conceded.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Stellenbosch Reserves

The game kicks off at 10:00 and will not be televised. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.

It comes just as the Buccaneers look to consolidate their spot at the top of the standings with a showdown against a Galaxy outfit looking for an early escape from the threat of relegation.

Form Guide

The Rockets recently got off the mark under the points column in the new Premiership season after sharing the spoils with Marumo Gallants over the weekend. This was despite relinquishing their lead to a Thapelo Dhludhlu strike in the second period after Samukele Kabini had put them ahead earlier.

That was to be their first point at the fourth time of asking in league football following defeats in each of their three opening games, all played away from home. Now 15th in the standings, the Mpumalanga outfit has had some mixed results outside the Premiership, falling on the first hurdle in the MTN8 before advancing to the Last Eight of the Carling Knockout Cup earlier in the month.

Their most recent cup result, along with the stalemate earned in their last league outing makes it two games unbeaten ahead of their clash against the Soweto Giants.

Sead Ramovic’s men now meet a side occupying top spot in the league standings after claiming all available points in their five league fixtures. The Buccaneers were victorious at home to AmaZulu last Friday, bagging all six points on offer in the week after dispatching SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium in midweek.

Active in three different competitions during the early part of their campaign, Pirates’ biggest blemish in 14 games since the start of the season came via an early exit in the Carling Knockout, courtesy of the newly-promoted Magesi. Having gone two in two since their cup disappointment, they will be looking to make the most of their league commitments which take full precedence until after the upcoming international break.

Team News

Right back Deano van Rooyen is a fresh injury concern for Pirates after he had to withdraw early against Usuthu. The 27-year-old was replaced by Paseka Mako in the first half and his potential absence could mean an opportunity for the likes of Thabiso Monyane and Bandile Shandu.

Bosnian forward Dzenan Zamovic meanwhile remains unavailable for Galaxy after picking up a red-card, which led to a two-match suspension in their Carling Knockout victory over Chippa United. He is unavailable for selection along with teammate Victor Letsoalo who is also suspended for the fixture after he was cautioned twice in the cup clash against the Gqeberha outfit.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): Composed with the ball at his feet while possessing maturity that belies his age, the 20-year-old’s playmaking abilities continue to shine through. Mofokeng has already tallied up three goals and five assists across competitions this season and is fresh off yet another commanding performance in Bucs colours.

Samukelo Kabini (TS Galaxy): The Bucs Academy product was one of the standouts for the Rockets throughout the previous season and has carried his form into the new campaign. Equally adept at making an impact in the centre of the defence as well as out wide, Kabini has been a shining light for the Mpumalanga outfit and comes off a goal-scoring appearance over the weekend.

Head-to-Head

Pirates and Galaxy have met a total of eight times in the league, with the Buccaneers claiming a slight upper hand over the course of what is a relatively new rivalry. Their most recent trip to Mbombela saw them suffer a narrow defeat where they lost 1-0 through a second-half strike from Siphiwe Mahlangu.

Despite their defeat from a few months ago, the Soweto Giants have maintained a slight edge in the fixture with four victories and three defeats while one match ended in a draw.

They will be desperate to improve their away record however, having only won one of their four games in Mbombela. Their only victory came in the 2022/23 campaign where they found the net through Terrence Dzvukamanja and Deon Hotto, while Given Msimango scored the hosts’ only goal on the day.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 19:30 and the game will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the Club’s social media channels.

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

A goal in each half sealed the victory for the Buccaneers, who maintained their perfect start to the 2024/25 with their fourth win in as many matches. They went into the clash against their Gauteng rivals looking to put aside the disappointment of the past weekend’s early cup exit.

Top spot in the league standings also beckoned with Jose Riveiro’s men featuring among the first teams on show as league football marked its return after a long hiatus.

It did not take long for the home side to stamp their mark, striking with a decisive touch almost immediately after the first whistle. The opener was courtesy of Evidence Makgopa, who got on the end of a pinpoint ball from deep delivered by Thabiso Sesane before chipping it past United goalkeeper Ricardo Goss to make it 1-0 inside two minutes.

There were further opportunities to stretch the lead early on in the contest with Makgopa getting another bite at the cherry before Mohau Nkota conjured up a chance for Mofokeng with an excellent long ball. Neither player could find the net as United limited the damage to just one goal conceded amid an early onslaught from the home side.

Meanwhile, Bucs shot-stopper Sipho Chaine was not kept entirely quiet as he had to contend with shots from Vincent Pule and Lyle Lakay around the 25-minute mark, coming out on top on both occasions.
Shots on target continued to elude the hosts for the remainder of the first half. This was despite attempts from Deano van Rooyen and Nkota, who both misfired while looking to add a second.

United had a sniff at the Bucs goal on the stroke of halftime through good link-up play between Tashreeq Morris and Pule, with the former Bucs midfielder only managing a tame shot that made for an easy save for Chaine.

Having been handed a lifeline late in the first period, Pirates resumed their search for their second as they seamlessly pushed deep into opposition territory. However, they could not find the finishing touch with Nkota going over the bar from close range in the 53rd minute after benefiting from superb interplay between Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi.

The toiled continued with Goss largely untroubled as Makgopa headed wide from an excellent Van Rooyen cross before Innocent Maela threaded a neat ball for Mofokeng, who was dispossessed while looking to set himself up for a shot.

Maintaining a slim lead into injury time, the Buccaneers looked as if they were headed for a
nervy finish as United enjoyed some bright moments towards the end. This was only until Deon Hotto created breathing space for his side with a brilliant left-footed curler from outside the box which went beyond an outstretched Goss into the back of the net. Pirates had no issues in safely navigating the remaining seconds as they calmly saw out the game to take three points that sent them up to the top of the standings.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha (Dlamini 66’),
Maswanganyi (Rasebotja 86’), Mofokeng, Nkota (Maela 66’), Makgopa (Mabasa 78’).

A spirited first-half display from the tournament debutants left the Buccaneers reeling, leaving them with an uphill climb and ultimately sealing their early departure from the competition.

It was however the visitors who were up against it during the early exchanges as the home side enjoyed most of the possession. Pirates meanwhile could not take full advantage of their initial dominance with Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze untroubled for the most part.

Chances fell to Tshegofatso Mabasa and Karim Kimvuidi in the opening 15 minutes, but both players failed to direct the ball on target. Kimvuidi had another bite at the cherry moments after his first opportunity, this time drawing an easy save from the visiting shot-stopper.

Shots continued to fly from the Buccaneers with Mabasa and Monnapule Saleng each firing off target just before the half-hour mark. This was moments before the tide turned, as Dikwena tša Meetse found the decisive touch in the 32nd minute.

The breakthrough came against the run of play with Delano Abrahams finding himself in oodles of space on the right before nodding home to make it 1-0. It only took the visitors seven minutes to double the lead, with their second goal coming in rather fortuitous fashion as Thabiso Sesane turned the ball into his own net while attempting to deal with a ball from out wide.

Things went from bad to worse for the Buccaneers, as they conceded a penalty after Deolin Mekoa was deemed to have been fouled inside the box. Edmore Chirambadare stepped up to take the spot kick but was denied by Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine, the Zimbabwean was however lucky with the rebound with the ball landing back in his path, and he made no mistake in making it 3-0 at the stroke of halftime.

Faced with plenty of ground to cover in the second half, the Soweto Giants introduced fresh legs in the form of Mohau Nkota who made his way to the field just before the second-half restart. The teenager was quickly involved as he brought out the best in Chipezeze with a firmly struck left-footed shot.

His battle with the shot-stopper continued in the 57th minute when he was denied from close range. Mabasa also went close just moments later, firing at goal from just in front only to rattle the crossbar.

The Buccaneers continued looking to reduce the deficit and could have done so from a free kick taken by Dlamini who sent his effort on target but was denied by Chipezeze. With four minutes remaining on the clock, the midfielder was however able to breathe life into the contest as he beat the Magesi keeper from long range to cut the deficit down to two.

A grandstand finish was set up three minutes later as Evidence Makgopa fired in from inside the box, with his shot deflected out of Chipezeze’s reach to make it 3-2.

The drama continued until deep into injury time when Nkota appeared to have sent the game into extra time with a late strike. However, the goal did not count as he was adjudged offside.

That proved to be Pirates’ last real chance as they had left themselves with too much to do, bowing out on the first hurdle of the Carling Knockout.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Rasebotja (Maswanganyi 59’), Dlamini, Saleng (Nkota 46’), Mofokeng, Kimvuidi (Makgopa 59’), Mabasa.

It’s crucial three DStv Diski Challenge points for the Buccaneers, who brushed their opponents aside despite having to navigate the final stages of the contest with 10 men.

They went into the fixture looking to claim a second successive win following a narrow victory on the road against Lamontville Golden Arrows. After a mostly uneventful opening 10 minutes in the Vaal, the Buccaneers conjured up a chance through Seth Green whose effort drifted over the crossbar.

That proved to be a rare shot at goal for the hosts as the team from the Eastern Cape controlled proceedings for much of the first quarter. Siphamandla Msezane did however get a sniff at goal in the 19th minute, but could only send his effort from inside the penalty area inches wide.

Chippa had their own chances inside the Buccaneers half without doing much to trouble keeper Bayanda Zulu. Bucs defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi also had a go from a long way out late in the first half, but the break eventually came with the two sides still deadlocked at 0-0.

Pirates were quick off the blocks in the second half and could have edged forward through Green, who went clear on goal but could not find a way past the keeper. This was followed by another close call inside the visitors’ half as Simphiwe Selepe headed wide from a corner.

The persistence paid off eventually as second-half sub Simphiwe Selepe made an immediate impact in the 56th minute as he got on the end of a pass from Siphamandla Msezane before firing at goal to make it 1-0.

The Bucs Reserves could have gone two-up just moments later when Neo Mokoena forced a save from the keeper. The wait for the second turned out to be a brief one however, with Msezane turning from provider to scorer just after the hour mark when he dribbled past one player before calmly slotting home.

With the home side cruising, they were met by a snag in their sails in the 76th minute when Dimpho Madalane received his marching orders after picking up a second caution. Pirates however maintained control, consistently entering the opposition half despite being a man short.

They further extended their lead late in injury time through replacement striker Mehluleli Maphumulo, who showed composure inside the box as he lost his marker before placing the ball in the back of the net.

There was no comeback for the young Chilli Boys, as the Buccaneers comfortably clinched all three points and a clean sheet in completing their biggest win so far this season.

Pirates Reserves XI: Zulu, Mbokazi, Selepe, Mokone, Madalane, Molepo, Mohlala (Nzimande 73’), Mokoena, Khoza (Masilela 56’), Green (Mazibuko 65’), Msezane (Maphumulo 73’).

The end of the October international break brings about the return of domestic football, with focus shifting from one cup campaign to the other. It begins with Buccaneers renewing their pursuit of the one piece of silverware that has eluded them in recent years.

Having endured an early exit in the previous edition, they now face a tricky task against the debutants who are desperate to make a mark in their first cup outing as a top-flight outfit.

Form Guide

Dikwena tša Meetse have had a mixed bag of results since their promotion from the top flight, experiencing each possible outcome in their four matches. They began their campaign with two consecutive defeats and have bounced back to claim four league points in their next two matches.

Their highest point so far this season came via an upset victory away to the high-flying Lamontville Golden Arrows, who were yet to taste defeat prior to their encounter with the Limpopo outfit. Three weeks have elapsed since their last fixture, giving them ample time to prepare for their next challenge which comes in the form of a Pirates side in rampant form.

The Buccaneers go into the clash in high spirits after claiming a historic third consecutive MTN8 title, beating Stellenbosch 3-1 in the final played at Moses Mabhida Stadium. In achieving the monumental feat, they stretched their winning streak in all competition to seven straight matches, and remain unbeaten in 11 games played since the start of the season.

They have emerged victorious in nine of these fixtures, and will look to maintain momentum against a potential stumbling block on the first hurdle.

Team News

Defender Olisa Ndah is among the Bucs players ruled out for the clash, while midfielder Thalente Mbatha is also doubtful after picking up an injury during the MTN8 final. Meanwhile, defensive duo Bandile Shandu and Tapelo Xoki are nearing a return to the match day squad, having both resumed full training.

Pirates have been further boosted by the return of seven players who were away on international duty, while Deano van Rooyen is also available for selection after having to sit out the final.

For Magesi, veteran defender Limbikani Mzava is back in camp after featuring for Malawi in the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

Key Players

Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates): With five goals across competitions already this season, Saleng goes into Saturday’s fixture determined to pick up where he left off. The 26-year-old’s impact cannot be understated, along with his ability to produce the goods in critical moments.

Wonderboy Makhubu (Magesi): The centre-forward has been an influential figure early on in Magesi’s campaign, netting their first-ever top flight goal and following it up with a Man of the Match performance in their most recent fixture. He will be integral to his side’s cause, as they look to halt the Soweto Giants’ title charge.

Head-to-Head

The Carling Knockout fixture will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 15:00 and the match will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can also follow the action as it happens by keeping an eye on live updates shared across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the fixture are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.

The Nigerian international who missed out on playing the MTN8 final after suffering an injury in the league match against Polokwane City, is expected to be out on the sidelines for a lengthy spell. The Bucs medical department has confirmed that the 26 year old has suffered a tibia fracture. Due to the location and nature of the injury; the decision on surgery is not straightforward but based on this type of injury, Ndah has been ruled out for the rest of the year.

In addition to Ndah’s injury, the medical department provided updates on other players in recovery:

Thalente Mbatha

Continues to undergo rehabilitation regarding the injury he suffered in Pirates 3-1 win over Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8. The Bucs medical team will continue to monitor his progress this week before clearing him to return to full training.

Bandile Shandu

Has started full training with the team. He has also begun playing 35 minutes for friendly matches. This load will increase every week until he reaches 90 minutes without feeling any discomfort.

Tapelo Xoki

Has been cleared to return to full training , with focus on agility drills before being allowed to participate in friendly matches.

Goodman Mosele

Is currently undergoing intermediate rehabilitation phase. He has started jogging and the team has slowly introduced heavy loaded weight training

Zakhele Lepasa

Like Mosele, Lepasa is also currently undergoing intermediate rehabilitation phase. He has started running on the field and strength training.

Thabiso Lebitso

Has started running as part of his progression. Scheduled to start plyometric training as of next week.
Continues with external biokinetic training to improve strength in hamstring and quadriceps.

Sandile Mthethwa

Sustained an abdominal muscle strain during training. He is attending rehabilitation sessions with a visceral therapist that deals with this type of injuries.

Ethan Visagie

Sustained a right ankle sprain during training. Post orthopaedic consultation; conservative treatment was suggested as strategy for his recovery

It was a return to winning ways for Joseph Makhanya’s young troops whose three points took them from seventh to fourth in the standings. This is after they were made to sweat for their victory by an Arrows side desperate to get off the mark in the new season.

Without a goal in their last two games, Pirates set out to end a winless streak of as many matches. It was a subdued start to proceedings with the visitors enjoying most of the possession while struggling to find the finishing touch.

An error from the Buccaneers led to a rare chance for the opposition, with Khanyisani Malinga firing just wide with his shot from outside the penalty area. A similar opportunity was presented at the other end where Bucs midfielder Simphiwe Masilela intercepted Abafana Bes’thende’s attempt to play out from the back, but failed to find a way past goalkeeper Owami Dlamini.

Pirates continued to push deep into the hosts’ half without affecting the scoreboard. This was despite nearly going into the break a goal up, as captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi was played in behind the defence only to miscue his shot with just the keeper to beat.

The first 45 minutes ended goalless, with the second period kicking off with a more assertive display from Arrows who sought to break the deadlock. Bucs keeper Bayanda Zulu was called upon early on after the break, as he had to be quick off his line with Andile Dlamini bearing down on goal.

Despite the early pressure from the home side, the Buccaneers were able to regain control of the game as the lively Gosiame Ngobeni delivered a cross towards Ciniso Mazibuko, who was a split-second too late on the ball. The roles were reversed in the 58th minute with Mazibuko pinpointing Ngobeni with a cross of his own, only to be denied by Dlamini.

The visitor kept the pressure on, constantly knocking on Arrows’ door and the decisive moment came in the 74th minute when Siphamandla Msezane was fouled inside the box by Dlamini, with the referee duly awarding a penalty. The Bucs forward confidently stepped up and smashed the ball low and hard beyond the shot-stopper’s reach to give his side a deserved lead.

Following their opener, the Buccaneers went in search of their second to seal the result. They had several chances as Mazibuko, Ngobeni, and replacement midfielder Cemran Dansin all combined well only to be let down by poor finishing.

The best of these chances fell to second-half sub Aphelele Nzimande who was played in by Msezane in the 83rd minute, only to rush his effort at goal. That however did not prove too costly with the Buccaneers’ finding no difficulty in holding on to their slim lead for three well-earned points.

Pirates Reserves XI: Zulu, Ralenkoane, Mbokazi, Mokone, Sibiya, Mohlala (Williams 71’), Molepo, Ngobeni (Green 61’) , Mazibuko (Nzimande 61’), Masilela (Dansin 35’), Msezane.

Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium hosts October’s first DDC festival with the two sides providing Saturday’s show stopper.

Form Guide
Ahead of Match Day 7, it is the Buccaneers who go into the fixture higher up the table in seventh place. This is despite some disappointing results over the past two weekends where they returned a single point out of a possible six.

The recent turn of results began with a heavy defeat away to TS Galaxy, which was followed by a goalless stalemate on their return to home soil against Magesi. The point earned in their most recent outing took their points tally to nine in six matches this season via two wins and three draws.

For their opponents, the new campaign is yet to yield a victory as they sit in 14th place with just one point earned in their five matches. Abafana Bes’thende are coming off back-to-back defeats against AmaZulu and Polokwane City, with each of the two matches finishing in a 3- 1 scoreline.

They will be looking to avoid a third straight loss as they go into battle with a Buccaneers side in search of their first win in three weeks.

Head-to-Head
Pirates Reserves have enjoyed a dominant spell over their Arrows counterparts in recent years, having beaten them home and away last season. This was the Buccaneers’ second league double over Abafana Bes’thende in as many seasons.

Over the last six encounters, the team from KZN has only managed a solitary point which they collected through a 2-2 stalemate at home in April 2022. The Soweto giants have meanwhile collected five wins during this period, netting an impressive 14 goals while only letting in three.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Lamontville Golden Arrows Reserves
The match kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL (202) and the La Liga (204) channel. Live updates will be shared across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
Entry at the match venue is free.

After he was included in Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad, the 24-year-old is one of 23 players that will represent the country in back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Congo.

As part of a heavy Buccaneers contingent in the team named for the crucial fixtures, he could join four other club teammates in debuting for Bafana Bafana in 2024. The year itself has been a special one for “Pepe”, whose young Bucs career has featured a couple of loan spells away from the club. Upon his return, he had to bide his time before he could feature for the first team, making a few appearances on the bench before starting away to Sekhukhune United in March.

Sesane did not take long to establish himself as a first team regular and has been instrumental in helping the club secure two cup titles within four months. His contribution in the most recent of these further underlined his importance to the Buccaneers as he produced a Man of the Match performance in contributing towards a historic third straight MTN8 title.

Looking back at the emotional moment when he discovered he was set for higher honours, the player revealed that he could not hold back the tears after receiving the call. “The time I found out I’m in Bafana Bafana squad, I was so happy,” he told orlandopiratesfc.com. “At the same time, I was crying. I called my mom, and she was so happy for me.”

No stranger to making the most of his playing opportunities, Sesane will be looking to do the same should he be afforded a chance over the two matches. He is in line to feature in Friday’s AFCON qualifier in Gqeberha as well as the return leg against The Leopards in Brazzaville next Tuesday.

The match at Nelson Mandela Bay kicks off at 19:00 while kick-off at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat is at 18:00.

This past weekend, Riveiro led his team to MTN8 glory with a commanding 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC. The win secured the Buccaneers their third consecutive MTN8 title – a record-breaking feat never before achieved in the Premier Soccer League era.

Riveiro, the once little-known Spaniard faced scepticism from parts of the football community when he joined the club two years ago. Critics questioned his so-called lack of experience, with some even resorting to derogatory labels, dismissing him as a “plumber.” But the then 46-year-old (now 49) took the higher road and focused on his work.

“I have been hired by the Club. We are going to work to make history together and build a team we are all proud of. I don’t spend time thinking about what people say about me. My work must do the talking for me,” he declared at the time.

And talk it has. In just 830 days at the helm, Riveiro’s accomplishments have reverberated throughout South African football. Under his guidance, the Mighty Buccaneers have roared back into a competitive force.

Three MTN8 titles, two Nedbank Cup trophies, and back-to-back second place finishes in the Betway Premiership are a testament to his leadership.

The Numbers Game

To truly appreciate Riveiro’s performance over the last two and a half years, a look at the numbers is revealing:

Win Ratio:

Riveiro has secured 58 wins, 17 draws, and 20 losses in 95 matches, giving him a win ratio of 60%. This ranks him second (alongside Mike Makaab) only to Julio Leal, who achieved a 64% win ratio, albeit from just 28 matches.

1. Top 3 Coaches by Win Ratio:
2. Julio Leal: 64%
3. Jose Riveiro: 60% / Mike Makaab: 60%
4. Ted Dumitru: 54%

Total Wins:
With 58 wins, Riveiro ranks second in total victories, behind only Ruud Krol, who managed 65 wins in 125 matches between 2008 and 2011.

Top 3 Coaches by Total Wins:

1. Ruud Krol: 65
2. Jose Riveiro: 58
3. Mike Makaab: 41

Personal Sacrifice

Even more remarkable than the numbers are, the personal sacrifice Riveiro has made for the success of Orlando Pirates. For all the joy he has brought to the “Happy People” – as Pirates supporters are affectionately known, his achievements have come at a significant personal cost.

As Napoleon Hill once said, “Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness.” Riveiro’s journey exemplifies this truth.

In 2022, Riveiro arrived in South Africa with two trusted colleagues, Sergio Almenara and Michel Bellver, to work on the Pirates Project. However, both eventually left, unable to adapt to the challenges of living far from family. But Riveiro, ever the captain, remained steadfast, navigating these same difficulties while steering his team through the challenging football season.

The emotional strain was evident after the recent MTN8 victory against Stellenbosch FC. As the final whistle blew, cameras captured a poignant moment: Riveiro crouched down, tears streaming from his eyes. These were not just tears of joy but also a reflection of the immense personal sacrifices he has made, many of which remain hidden from public view.

What many don’t know, for two long years, Riveiro has been separated from his wife and young daughter, enduring the isolation of distance while shouldering the weight of leading a football giant like Orlando Pirates. The mental toll of working away from family, compounded by the unrelenting demands of top-level coaching, would have broken many. Yet Riveiro has persevered, driven by a profound sense of duty to the club and its supporters.

In the face of adversity, Riveiro has remained the epitome of selflessness. His commitment to this institution and its success has never wavered, even at the expense of his own personal well-being.

Now, with the FIFA break offering a temporary respite, Riveiro finally has the chance to reconnect with his family – a long-overdue reunion for a man who has given so much of himself for the greater good.

#AppreciationPost 

The victory saw them become the first side to successfully defend their title twice in the tournament, having previously hoisted the prestigious piece of silverware aloft in 2022 and 2023. It was an excellent show of character for the defending champions, who had to fight back after trailing early in the contest.

This was after a nervy start to the contest where they had to see off a determined effort from the men from the Winelands. Pirates had to survive some early scares from their opponents before making a few surges up field, but without doing much to affect the scoreboard.

It was a similar story for the visitors whose attempts at penetrating the Bucs defensive third fell short under the watchful eye of the back four with Thabiso Sesane and Innocent Maela each making vital stops early on.

The Buccaneers could only contain the men from the Winelands until only the 14th minute as Lehlohonolo Mojela broke the deadlock with an acrobatic effort from close up after the Soweto Giants’ failure to clear their lines from a set piece. This launched Pirates into action as Patrick Maswanganyi and Thabiso Monyane each had shots blocked by keeper Sage Stephens in search of the equaliser.

Sipho Chaine was not kept entirely quiet at the other end as he was called upon to deal with Ibraheem Jabaar’s low shot from the edge of the box in the 31st minute. The Bucs shot- stopper proved equal to the task, diving low to his right to keep the visitors from doubling their lead.

The hosts remained on the front foot, entering opposition territory quite regularly without
really threatening the visitors’ lead. This was until three minutes from the break when Maswanganyi was fouled outside the box.

Deon Hotto’s effort from the set piece pierced the defensive wall, but could not find a way past the outstretched Stephens. The shot-stopper’s parry only went as far as Monnapule Saleng who made no mistake from the rebound, drawing the Buccaneers level moments before the break.

The Namibian international started the second half similarly to how he ended the previous period as he was again denied by Stephens who deflected his shot from close range onto the upright after the hosts’ caught their opponents napping from a set piece. Chaine also had to make an intervention at the opposite end, keeping out a shot from Fawaaz Basadien.

Stephens denied Relebohile Mofokeng from close range late in the contest, following up with another stop from Kabelo Dlamini’s boot as the Buccaneers desperately sought to avoid going into extra time. With the Stellies defence holding firm, it looked as if an extra 30 minutes was inevitable. This was until injury time when another lapse in concentration from the visitors allowed replacement striker Tshegofatso Mabasa in with a shot to edge the Buccaneers ahead, taking the lead for the first time in the contest.

Pirates soon added to Stellenbosch’s misery as they put the result beyond doubt with their third goal, which came through Mofokeng whose nifty feet inside the box allowed him a free shot at goal after the defence was stretched wide open. It was a deserved win for the Buccaneers, who had rallied back after an early setback to earn their 13th title in Top-Eight competition.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Monyane, Maela (Mofokeng 62’), Mbatha (Rasebotja
74’), Makhaula (Dlamini 66’), Maswanganyi, Saleng, Hotto, Makgopa (Mabasa 66’).

It was a historic encounter between the two teams meeting for the first time in the Reserve League. Both were coming off disappointing results, having each suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 season. Pirates conceded a chance just moments after the first whistle with a defensive error that went unpunished as the resultant attempt at goal fell wayward.

Opportunities were slow to come by at the other end for much of the opening quarter, with the visitors keeping things quiet in their defensive third.Bucs winger Seth Green managed to force a save off Magesi keeper Sechaba Khota in the 27th minute with a firmly-struck ball from out wide. The shot-stopper came up tops once more just after the half-hour mark, this time denying Simphiwe Masilela.

The hosts continued to grow into the game well into the dying minutes of the first period, but the team from Limpopo managed to exploit some lapses in concentration as they created a couple of chances against the run of play. Pirates keeper Khumoetsile Rathokolo was however equal to the task along with defender Nelson Ralenkoane, with the pair pulling off vital stops to keep things scoreless.

It was the Buccaneers who nearly had the final say ahead of the break when Gosiame Ngobeni was played through on goal, but only managed to force a save off Khota. Magesi were first to get a sniff at goal in the second half, but were not able to convert. Pirates hit back with two opportunities of their own, both falling to midfielder Cemran Dansin who could not find the decisive touch.

Second-half substitutes Junior Williams and Aphelele Nzimande quickly got into the action moments after being introduced after the hour mark. Williams drew a save from Khota from close range before Nzimande’s shot from a free kick struck the woodwork.

Mistakes at both ends led to more missed opportunities in the closing moments, with Magesi coming close after a defensive error by Green. The winger looked to make amends on attack and drew a save from Khota who followed it up with another stop to deny Siphamandla Msezane’s effort from the rebound.

Nzimande had a late attempt in injury time, but failed to breach the visitors’ defences with Khota standing between the Buccaneers and maximum points. Despite the home side’s late flurry, Magesi held firm to see out the contest with points shared in the end.

Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Ralenkoane, Sibiya, Mokone, Mohlala, Selepe, Dansin (Williams 64’), Masilela, Green, Ngobeni (Nzimande 64’), Msezane.