Orlando Pirates are on the coast this evening, Wednesday, 5 March 2025, for their next Betway Premiership clash as they gear up to face Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

It’s the second game in an arduous spell away from home for the Buccaneers, who have further trips to Limpopo and the Western Cape ahead of their next home fixture. They travelled to Gqeberha following a rare trip to Bloemfontein and square off against a side back on home turf after kicking the new month off on the road.

Form Guide

Neither side could secure a win in their respective outings over the weekend, but it’s the Chilli Boys who head into the midweek encounter the happier of the two. This is after collecting a valuable point on their road through a goalless stalemate against Richards Bay.

Victory would have been ideal however, as they have now collected a single point out of a possible six in their last two games, and the recent turn of results has seen them remain locked in a spot just below the top half of the table in ninth place.

It’s a position Chippa will be eager to improve, with their league campaign approaching its final stretch. They have so far played 18 matches in the Premiership with half of those taking place on home soil where they have bagged four of their six wins this season, collecting 14 points in the process.

The feeling of triumph in front of their home crowd has somewhat faded for Thabo September’s men, as they welcome the Buccaneers three months since they last emerged victorious in their own backyard. They have gone on to claim one point in their three home games since, but might fancy their chances to turn the tide against a side that has frequently stumbled on the road in recent weeks.

Despite maintaining a place near the summit, the Buccaneers’ recent dip in form has made them a distant second in the standings. They fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Marumo Gallants on Saturday, their third away defeat this season. This trio of losses has occurred over a span of just a little under two months, where they could only spare their blushes with three points collected on a successful trip to Sekhukhune United.

With nine points in their last five matches overall, the Soweto Giants remain a formidable competitor and will be determined to take full advantage of their Eastern Cape side’s recent struggles in their own patch as they go on a quest to turn the tide.

Team News

Bucs coach Jose Riveiro will be a significant addition to the technical team as he returns after sitting out the previous game. He could not be part of the fixture against Gallants as he was serving a one-match ban.

The visitors have however been dealt another suspension blow with goalkeeper Sipho Chaine forced to sit out the trip to Gqeberha after picking up a yellow-card suspension. His place between the sticks is likely to be taken by Melusi Buthelezi, while Siyabonga Dladla is another capable option.

For Pirates’ hosts, the fixture is another outing without Aphelele Teto, who remains with the South Africa squad that is soon to depart for the weekend’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Egypt.

Key Players

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): Tough moments require experienced heads and the veteran winger is one player that can be counted on in such. The 34-year-old’s adaptability makes him a valuable asset to the team, affording the Buccaneers some tactical flexibility throughout the 90 minutes.

Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Chippa United): In only his second season in the top flight, the 25-year-old has quickly established himself as an important player for the Chilli Boys. Kwayiba’s versatility means he can operate both centrally and out wide, and is currently his side’s leading goal scorer with seven goals across competitions this season.

Head-to-Head

Piratesgo into the midweek fixture looking to complete a league double over the home side, following their 2-1 win in their season opener at Orlando Stadium. It’s a feat that has eluded them in recent years in this particular fixture as they last achieved it in the 2020/21 season when they claimed a narrow 1-0 win at home before netting three unanswered goals for a convincing victory in Gqeberha.

They still boast a dominant league record in the fixture nonetheless, having won 16 of their 23 league clashes with Chippa, drawing three and only losing four times. An impressive seven of the Buccaneers’ wins have come away from home with the Chilli Boys currently on two home wins, the last of which dates back to the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2015/16 league campaign.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 19:30 and the match will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. You can follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.

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

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’).

With this victory, the Buccaneers record their 400th win in the all-time Premier Soccer League
table (since 1996). The hosts came from a goal down to snatch all three points, sealing a victorious start to their 2024/25 league campaign.

The two sides produced an eventful first 45 minutes, with the hosts quick to control possession shortly after the first whistle. They were however unable to make the most of their early dominance as they failed to threaten the visitors’ goal throughout the opening 15 minutes.

Pirates’ first real sight at goal came through a set piece when Relebohile Mofokeng’s ball from a corner kick located defender Olisa Ndah, whose looping header fell well off target. Against the run of play, Chippa took full advantage of a rare foray into Bucs territory, edging ahead in the 22nd minute through midfielder Andile Jali who pounced on a loose ball outside the box to fire into the back of the net.

The hosts were spurred into action by the goal, but continued to stutter inside the attacking third as clear chances remained elusive. This was until the 35th minute when nervy defending from the visitors allowed Monnapule Saleng in with a chance as he pushed into the box, only to be denied by Stanley Nwabali.

Ex-Bucs striker Bienvenu Eva Nga nearly made it 2-0 to the Chilli Boys with a powerful volley from outside the box, but Sipho Chaine was alert to the danger as he dropped low to his left to make a save. The real game-changing moment occurred at the other end where Saleng was fouled inside the opposition box, prompting the referee to point to the spot.

Tshegofatso Mabasa stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake as he got off the
mark in the league with a well-taken penalty to draw Pirates level at the stroke of halftime. Looking to grab the early advantage in the second half, the Soweto Giants came close through Mofokeng who was freed up on the left but could not find a way past Nwabali.

They also had their fair share of defending to do as Chaine denied defender Thabo Makhele from
close range, while Deano Van Rooyen made a few stops of his own to thwart Xolani Sithole and Eva Nga. With full-time approaching Maswanganyi chanced his arm with an audacious attempt from a tight angle, but the Chilli Boys’ shot-stopper had it covered.

It appeared as if the two sides would share the spoils as injury time arrived with things still level, but Saleng had the final say as he headed in past Nwabali after meeting a fine cross from Deon Hotto. The decisive strike came at the perfect moment for the hosts, who only had to see out a few more seconds to secure maximum points in their season opener.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndah, Sesane, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula (Dlamini 66’), Mbatha,
Saleng (Maela 90+3’), Mofokeng (Moleleki 66’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa.

The long wait for league football comes to an end for the Bucs faithful with the Soweto Giants embarking on their quest to add another Premiership title to their collection of silverware.

Form Guide
It all begins with a clash against a team that has experienced different levels of activity to theirs in the weeks leading up to the start of their league campaign. Chippa’s last competitive fixture on the 25th May 2024,was their 2023/24 season finale, where they went down at home to Sekhukhune United to finish 12th in the league standings.

They have since had a few friendly matches as they look to sharpen up for the season ahead. The Buccaneers have meanwhile been fully immersed in high-stakes encounters, playing several knockout fixtures both domestically and on the continent.

They have one foot in the CAF Champions League group stage after Saturday’s crucial 2-0 win in the away leg of their tie against Jwaneng Galaxy, while their MTN8 title defence continues with just the final
against Stellenbosch left to play. In their six matches played since the start of the season, they have won four and drawn two and boast a 100% win record at Orlando Stadium having seen off SuperSport United and Cape Town City locally as well as Madagascar outfit, Disciples.

A different challenge awaits them at home as they look to bag the three points on offer against an equally determined Chippa outfit.

Team News
League debuts could be on the cards for new recruits Deano van Rooyen and Selaelo Rasebotja, who both ran out in Bucs colours for the first time over the weekend. The home side has also been bolstered by the imminent return of Paseka Mako after he was declared fit to resume training earlier in the week.

Meanwhile the visitors could be sporting a host of new faces, following their activity on the
transfer window which saw them bring on the likes of Andile Jali and Gadiel Kamagi along with Azola Matrose, who has rejoined the club from the Buccaneers.

Key Players

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): The experienced campaigner has hit top form early in the season, and will be eager to continue in the same vein as the Buccaneers kick off their league campaign. His effectiveness in open play and on set pieces has shone through in his recent performances for club and country, where he has registered three goals in his last our appearances.

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United): Fresh off back-to-back clean sheets in national colours, the Nigerian shot stopper is one of a handful Chippa players who have registered some competitive game time this season. The 28-year-old’s influence from between the sticks has been key to the Eastern Cape side, who have benefited from the stability he offers on defence.

Head-to-Head
The two sides met on three occasions last season, with Chippa snatching a league point in the first encounter at Nelson Mandela Stadium. This was before Pirates claimed victory in a Nedbank Cup clash at the same venue, which they followed up with a Premiership win at Orlando Stadium a few days later.

Ahead of their 23rd league encounter, the Buccaneers go in looking to further establish their status as the dominant force in their rivalry, having won 15 of the matches played so far while only losing three times. However, it hasn’t all been one-way traffic over the past few seasons with the Chilli Boys’ most recent victory only dating back to August 2022 when they famously stunned the Soweto Giants in their own backyard.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The match gets underway at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the game are available online on TicketPro as well as selected outlets
nationwide.

Three points were up for grabs in Soweto as the two sides slugged it out once more following the weekend’s Nedbank Cup encounter at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where the Buccaneers prevailed to book their place in the final.

At home for the first time since hosting AmaZulu in mid-April, the home side struggled to find cohesion early on with the opening 20 minutes flying by without any real opportunities at both ends. Bucs defender Thabiso Monyane was however presented with a chance in the 17th minute when he was released in acres of space by Thalente Mbatha but badly miscued his shot at goal.

It took them until just before the half-hour mark to truly trouble the defence as Patrick Maswanganyi surged through the middle before drawing a deflection inside the box with his effort at goal.

The breakthrough wasn’t too far off, and it came in the 36th minute through some delightful interplay kicked off just inside Chippa territory when Maswanganyi released Monyane on the flank and the right-back delivered a searching cross which was turned into the net by Mabasa.

Pirates remained dominant and had an opportunity to double their lead four minutes before the break when Baraka Majogoro used his hand to defend Innocent Maela’s cross into the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.

The in-form Mabasa stepped up to convert and made no mistake as he sent the ball past a diving Stanley Nwabali into the bottom corner.

An error-strewn start to the second period nearly left the visitors with an even steeper hill to climb as midfielder Thabo Makhele’s misdirected back pass came close to finding his own net before a desperate scramble from Nwabali who rushed across to make a clearance

Chippa did show glimpses of intent as they looked to claw their way back and could have halved the deficit on the hour mark when Ronaldo Maarman fired at goal, only to be denied a deflection from Tapelo Xoki who had stuck his foot out inside the box.

The two sides traded blows as the clock wound down, with Kabelo Dlamini drawing a save from Nwabali with a long-range effort while Sipho Chaine produced a similar outcome at the other end in keeping out Aviwe Mqokozo’s header.

The Bucs shot-stopper was called upon once more on the 90-minute mark to deny Brooklyn Poggenpoel after the midfielder had unleashed a powerful shot from a fair distance out. This was followed by an injury-time effort from Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa who pushed into space before forcing Nwabali into a save from close range.

The two first-half goals were however all that was needed to settle the contest as the Soweto Giants clinched another vital win to extend a remarkable winning run.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane (Ndah 83’), Xoki, Monyane, Maela, Mbatha, Makhaula (Timm 46’), Dlamini (Kapinga 72’), Mofokeng (Otladisa 89’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa (Makgopa 83’).

A gruelling week away from home concludes with a significant chapter in the Soweto Giants’ title defence as they look to take another step towards their 10th title by seeing off a side looking to book their first cup final since 2021.

Form Guide

Pirates carry crucial momentum to their trip to their Eastern Cape, having won back-to-back games away from home within a span of three days.

They defeated Royal AM 4-0 in a DStv Premiership clash in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday before registering a 2-0 win away to Cape Town City. This has stretched their winning run across competitions to five games, a streak that began in early April with a convincing 7-1 league win at home Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Another impressive display on the road followed that commanding performance as they booked a 4-2 victory in their Nedbank Cup clash against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium, marching on in their title defence after breezing past Crystal Lake and Hungry Lions in the earlier rounds.

Their opponents have charted a more dramatic journey to this stage of the competition, having also locked horns with teams from the lower leagues in the opening two rounds before facing off against top-flight opposition for the first time in the quarterfinals.

Chippa scraped past ABC Motsepe League outfit NC Professionals in the Round of 32 before they were drawn at home to another third-tier side in FC Ravens, who they defeated 2-1 in extra time.

They booked their spot in the semis with a 2-0 win away to DStv Premiership rivals TS Galaxy, making it three wins in a row across competitions before adding a fourth with a similar scoreline in a league game against SuperSport United in Atteridgeville.

However, that victory over Matsatsansa has turned out to be the last thus far, as they go into the semifinal on the back of consecutive defeats in games against AmaZulu and Moroka Swallows.

Team News

After resting some of their first-team regulars in midweek, the Chilli Boys are expected to field a changed team on Saturday. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was among the subs against Swallows and could be back in the starting XI, along with defenders Justice Chabalala and Sirgio Kammies who both return from suspension.

They will however be without Sirgio Kammies, who is ruled out of the clash after picking up a red card in the match against AmaZulu.

For the Buccaneers, theoptions at coach Jose Riveiro’s disposal have been bolstered by the return of midfield pair Makhehleni Makhaula and Patrick Maswanganyi. Both players are again eligible for selection after missing the midweek clash against City through suspension after picking up yellow cards against Royal AM.

Fullback Thabiso Lebitso is meanwhile ruled out of the match against his former team as he continues his recovery from an injury picked up on Sunday.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The ever-improving Mofokeng continues to impress in what is his first full season with the senior team. The 19-year-old playmaker is fresh off another confident display where he chipped in with two assists to take his tally to 10 goal contributions in the current campaign.

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United): The shot-stopper has been a standout player for the Chilli Boys, and currently sits on 11 clean sheets in all competitions this season. Nwabali is a commanding figure between the sticks, providing leadership at the back while possessing great anticipation and excellent reflexes.

Head-to-Head

Spoils were shared on Pirates’ last visit to Gqeberha when a second-half strike from Goodman Mosele cancelled out Bandile Shandu’s 24th-minute opener in a league fixture played in August last year.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first cup clash between the two sides since October 2018 when the Buccaneers claimed a narrow victory with Vincent Pule netting the only goal of the match to send his side to the League Cup quarterfinals.

Since then, all fixtures between the two sides have been league matches and the Soweto Giants have dominated with six wins and just one defeat, while only two games have failed to produce a winner.

How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Chippa United

The game gets underway at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. You can stay in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.