It’s a victory that brought the Soweto Giants, who have another four games in hand, closer to their Tshwane counterparts on the points table. It also ended a lengthy Premiership drought as the hosts bagged their first league win over the team in yellow in five seasons. 

Back at the iconic venue for another massive home game, Pirates could not have asked for a better start as they went two ahead inside the opening five minutes. Relebohile Mofokeng was the hero on both occasions, benefiting from some excellent work from Deano van Rooyen and Evidence Makgopa on the right flank before firing past Ronwen Williams in the fourth minute. He doubled his tally a minute later, this time pouncing on an opportunity afforded to him by sloppy defensive work from the visitors as he made it 2-0. 

Plenty was demanded from the Bucs defence in the moments following their second goal as the visitors looked to claw their way back into the contest. Makhehleni Makhaula was on hand to deny Khuliso Mudau while Mbekezile Mbokazi had the upper hand in duels with Iqraam Rayners and Aubrey Modiba. 

Sundowns’ best chances of the first half came through set pieces as Grant Kekana struck the upright with a header from close range before Lucas Ribeiro went inches over the crossbar with a similar effort. The Brazilian attacker then went just wide from a free kick taken right in front of the Pirates goal on the half-hour mark.

Opportunities were however not confined to one end with the hosts finding a few just as the break approached. Deon Hotto forced a save off Williams with a shot from a tight angle before Mofokeng followed suit with an attempt taken from in front of the Sundowns goal. The youngster had another go moments before the break as he looked to complete his hat-trick, but the shot-stopper was again equal to the task.

Some late attempts from Peter Shalulile threatened to reduce the Buccaneers’ lead as halftime loomed. The Namibian forward twice misfired, going well wide with a header from a corner before producing a shot that drifted narrowly off target. 

The Tshwane Giants resumed their bid to claw their way back, and enjoyed the better of the early opportunities in the second half. Wayward attempts from Rayners and Teboho Mokoena were however all they could offer initially, while Sipho Chaine had to command his area in the face of a Modiba cross around the hour mark. 

Sundowns’ persistence paid off in the 66th minute when a lapse in concentration gave Mudau a one-on-one chance against the Bucs keeper, with the defender coming out tops as he made it 2-1. 

This set up an awkward finish from the home side’s perspective, with the Brazilians not letting up. Arthur Sales was in the centre of their latter attacks, thwarted by the offside flag at first before drifting wide with an attempt from outside the box. 

Pirates were feeding off scraps at this point, making the odd surge into the Sundowns penalty area. Their defensive shape continued to be tested as they had to deal with a couple of last-gasp attempts from Mokoena. 

Sheer determination prevailed at the end, with the Soweto Giants clinging on to their slim lead. Their victory kept them firmly in the race for the league title, while maintaining a near-perfect record at home in the ongoing season.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Mbokazi, Mbatha  (Mosele 76’), Makhaula, Dlamini (Mako 62’), Hotto (Shandu 87’), Mofokeng (Nkota 76’), Makgopa (Radiopane 76’). 

It’s a fixture that has historically drawn massive interest from across the country, and its upcoming instalment is expected to be no different. It comes along at a crucial stage of the 2024/25 season this time around, with its outcome likely to change the shape of the rest of the league campaign.

A rare atmosphere is anticipated not only at the match venue, but also in other parts of Soweto and surrounding areas. As a result, JMPD will implement strict traffic measures that will be in operation from 8:00.

Road Closures

The following routes will be closed. A detailed road closure map is available on the Stadium Management SA website.

• Cnr Nasrec and Shaft 17
• Cnr Nasrec Road and Randshow Road
• Cnr Stadium Avenue and Nasrec Road
• Cnr Stadium Avenue and Soccer City Road
• Cnr League Rd and Booysens Reserve Road
• Soweto Highway off ramp onto League Road
• Soweto Highway North to South and South to North

Transport Options

Parking is free and vehicles parked in non-designated areas will be towed. Those attending the match are advised to not take directions from illegal car guards. All parking areas open at 9:00. Additional directional signage will be in place to assist

patrons to parking and drop-off areas.

To ease traffic congestion in and around the stadium precinct, supporters are encouraged to make use of several transport options available.

Rea Vaya stations will start operating at 9:00 and ride tickets will be sold at the Soccer City station. Buses will operate at five-minute intervals between 11:00 and 15:30. The last buses departing FNB Stadium are expected to leave at 19:00.

There are additional transportation options available, including taxis and Park and ride services. A detailed route guide is available on the Stadium Management SA website.

Ticket Info

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:30 with gates at FNB Stadium opening at 11:30. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to soak up the carnival atmosphere and avoid any possible delays closer to kick-off time.

Only valid tickets will be accepted at the gates and those engaging in selling or purchasing illegal tickets will be arrested and prosecuted.

Tickets can be purchased digitally on pirates.opentickets.co.za, Stadium Management SA website and the OpenTickets website. Physical thermal tickets are available at over 1,700 outlets nationwide, including Shoprite, USave, and Checkers.

Match Day Entertainment

The pre-game beer garden, located opposite Gate K at FNB Stadium Promenade Amphitheatre will be operating from 11:30 to 14:30, and is exclusive to ticket holders.

There will also be a pre-match activation with giveaways from the following Orlando Pirates partners.

• Vodacom
•  Adidas
• SuperSportBET
•  OPPO
• Aquelle

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to stand a chance of winning exciting prizes.

The Bucs medical team has ruled out Thabiso Sesane and Thalente Mbatha to face the Brazilians.

Sesane has been ruled out after suffering a ruptured tendon during Pirates’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune United midweek. The injury, which occurred early in the match, has left the young defender in need of surgery.

Meanwhile, Mbatha, the dynamic midfielder and Bafana Bafana international, has also been sidelined after failing a late fitness test. Mbatha picked up his injury during the same match against Sekhukhune, following a collision with an opposition player as he attempted to shoot at goal.

While scans have thankfully ruled out any fractures, the discomfort in his foot has proven too much to overcome in time for today’s clash. 

The Bucs medical team has been working tirelessly to get Mbatha back on the pitch, but the decision has been made to prioritise his recovery. He will now focus on rehabilitation in the coming days, with hopes of a swift return to action. 

In the context of the ongoing quest for league supremacy, it is undoubtedly the biggest clash thus far with its outcome holding the potential to determine the shape of the title race. It is a battle between the two teams occupying the highest spots in the standings, both approaching the halfway mark of their respective campaigns.

Form Guide

Pirates are the side heading into the clash with a bit of ground to make in the title race as they are placed right below their table-topping rivals. Six points separate the two sides with the Buccaneers going in with a game in hand, and the gap in points could be halved by the end of the weekend should things go in their favour in Tshwane.

They have worked up some winning momentum on their return to league football, overcoming rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a dramatic Soweto Derby on Saturday before triumphing over Sekhukhune United in tricky circumstances in Polokwane. This proved to be a welcome set of results for Jose Riveiro’s men who have now bagged 12 out of an available 15 points from their last five games.

In doing so, they remain among the top three teams in terms of the highest points tally away from home. Their four victories and one defeat on the road have earned them an impressive 12 points and place them just behind Sundowns and Stellenbosch when it comes to the league’s best travellers this season.

They however have the unenviable task of inflicting a first home defeat to a side yet to drop points in seven home league fixtures in their backyard. It’s a record that has been key to the hosts’ positioning in the log, with their only defeat throughout the season occurring on the road.

They approach the match against the Buccaneers on a roll, having won all of the nine matches played since they last failed to get over the line in the Premiership. While they have been dominant throughout, recent form will be sure to give them an extra boost in confidence following their commanding performances against Lamontville Golden Arrows and SuperSport United – against whom they netted a total of seven unanswered goals across their two outings over the past week.

Team News

Defender Thabiso Sesane is a worry for Pirates ahead of their trip across the Jukskei River. The 24-year-old only lasted 18 minutes in the victory over Babina Noko and could sit out the trip to Loftus.

The experienced Tapelo Xoki – brought on in his place in midweek – is among the likely options along with club captain Innocent Maela. Also waiting in the wings is Olisa Ndah who is making his way back to match-fitness, having resumed training.

For Sundowns, central midfielder Bathusi Aubaas adds to Miguel Cardoso’s options in the heart of the action. The 29-year-old has served a two-match suspension after he was given his marching orders during Sundowns’ 5-2 win against Sibanye in the Nedbank Cup. They will however be without veteran attacker Themba Zwane, who has been out of action since pulling up injured while on national duty in October.

Key Players

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): Ever present in the Bucs lineup is the Namibian stalwart, who displayed his class and versatility once again with an impactful display in midweek. The 34-year-old has mainly started in defence but slots in effortlessly on attack, and his goal and assist against Sekhukhune have propelled him to double figures in goal contributions this season.

Tashreeq Matthews (Mamelodi Sundowns): While it’s still early days in his Sundowns career, Matthews has not hesitated to show why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the country. He has made a number of impressive cameos throughout the season, and made a strong case for a second consecutive start in the league when he netted a brace in the Tshwane Derby, taking his league tally to four goals along as many assists in just eight appearances.

Head-to-Head

Pirates returned with a single point from their last league visit to Loftus, despite finishing the game a man short. Midfielder Miguel Timm was sent off early in the second half with the hosts capitalising on their numerical advantage through a goal from Marcelo Allende soon after, but a late Tapelo Xoki strike from the penalty spot ensured a share of the spoils. This meant that they avoided conceding the dreaded league double, having fallen short in the reverse fixture at Orlando Stadium.

While some recent success – which includes back-to-back cup finals – could give the Soweto Giants some confidence, it has been one-way traffic in favour of their Tshwane counterparts in the league. As a result, Pirates will be chasing their first league triumph in the fixture since January 2020.

In games played in the country’s capital, the Brazilians have enjoyed a slight edge in the past decade winning eight of the 20 fixtures while the Buccaneers boast six wins with the other six matches finishing level.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. Live updates will be provided across all Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the match are sold out.