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.

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’).

In the Buccaneers’ first home Nedbank Cup fixture since encountering Hungry Lions at a similar stage en route to their second straight title, they face a potential banana peel from another side from the second tier. This time around, they are up against a side whose giant- killing feats in the competition are well-documented.

Form Guide

Surprise semifinalists in 2011, Baroka have had one more hurdle to conquer on their way to this stage of the competition. Their two cup fixtures thus far were away from home, but they were undeterred in going past Championship rivals Casric Stars in the preliminary round before brushing off the challenge of third tier outfit Umvoti in the Round of 32.

In doing so, they have netted an impressive five unanswered goals. There has however been a notable disparity in how they fared in the league compared to their form in knockout football. The result against Umvoti stands out as their only win in their five most recent fixtures across competitions while drawing on three occasions.

Their one defeat during this period was a heavy one, and it came at the hands of Venda Football Academy who recorded a 5-1 win at home. After fighting back to claim a point in dramatic style against the University of Pretoria, Bakgaga are winless in their last two matches and are placed eighth in the Championship standings.

They now set their sights on a wounded Bucs side who remain in second place in the top flight, despite falling on the undesired side of a 4-1 scoreline on the road in their last league fixture.

The defending Nedbank Cup champions will nonetheless relish their return to the familiar comforts of Orlando Stadium where they last played in early January, hosting Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League.

Their month-long exile from the iconic turf included a successful home outing against fellow Sowetans Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium after back-to-back away wins against Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Richards Bay, respectively.

The 3-1 win against the Natal Rich Boyz was their ticket to the last 16 of the national cup and one of five straight victories collected before their slip-up in Tshwane. Still, in pursuit of three consecutive triumphs in the prestigious competition, the Soweto Giants will be wary of the threat posed by the Limpopo outfit boasting a decent collection of upsets in cup football.

Team News

Bucs defender Thabiso Sesane will likely miss out once more following an injury sustained during Pirates’ victory against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane last week.

However, the hosts could be bolstered by the return of midfielder Thalente Mbatha, whose foot injury ruled him out of the trip to the country’s capital over the weekend. For their visitors, the most significant change heading into the fixture is among the technical personnel.

Assistant coach Foster Hlongwane takes over the reins on an interim basis, replacing Joel Masutha who departed the club after a brief spell.

Key Players

Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates): The Namibian international heads into this fixture as one of the form players in the Bucs setup with two goals and an assist in each of his last two appearances. A menace on either side of the pitch in both attack and defence, Hotto’s unwavering commitment has the ability to elevate team performance and will be crucial in another must-win fixture.

David Mothipi (Baroka): Unveiled as a new Baroka signing at the start of the ongoing season, the attacker has been an instant hit in his new club colours. Equally comfortable in a central role as well as out wide, Mothipi’s eye for goal has been key all season and he currently sits on seven goals across competitions for Bakgaga.

Head-to-Head

Pirates will be encountering Baroka for the first time since the two sides produced back-to- back goalless stalemates in the 2021/22 stalemates, the season where the team in green dropped down to the second tier of South African football. It has been well over six years since their epic marathon cup final, which finished 2-2 after extra time with Bakgaga edging it in the subsequent penalty shootout.

That remains their only competitive clash outside the league, where the Buccaneers have won each of the three games that have produced a winner. All but one of these previous fixtures have been tight affairs, with the Soweto Giants’ only comfortable win against the Limpopo outfit dating back to January 2018 when they raced to a three-goal lead – courtesy of a brace from Luvuyo Memela and a Musa Nyatama strike – before securing a 3-1 victory.

TV Guide 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.

Drawn against the KwaZulu-Natal outfit first up, the Soweto Giants had found themselves contesting one of the trickier match-ups in the Round of 32. They began their quest for a third straight Nedbank Cup triumph away to a side that had enjoyed rare cup success against them in the recent past.

Having attracted a sell-out crowd to the famous Umlazi venue, the two sides produced a cagey start with the first 15 minutes running by with no clear chances at goal. It was the defending champions who were first to find any sort of cohesion as they camped in the opposition half amid a compact defensive structure employed by the hosts.

They had to wait until the 17th minute for the first shot to come about, courtesy of Patrick Maswanganyi. The midfielder looked to curl one in from the edge of the box but landed it inches over the crossbar.

He however succeeded minutes from his earlier effort, as he found the breakthrough with a stunner from outside the box. This was after making a well-timed run towards the edge of the penalty area, benefitting from combination play between Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng before unleashing a shot that evaded the diving Ian Otieno on its way to the back of the net.

The trio would repeat the sequence in the 26th minute when Pirates doubled their lead. This time with Maswanganyi finishing from inside the box as he took a few touches to set himself up before slotting home after he was again set up by Mofokeng.

The visitors’ lead could have been halved moments after the half-hour mark, when their defence was stretched. Thato Mahlomme found himself in space out on the left and was denied by the upright.

The momentum remained with the home side as halftime approached, but none of the chances they created could affect the scoreline. This meant that the Buccaneers took a comfortable lead as the two sides headed into the break.

Their two-goal advantage however only lasted two minutes after the restart, with the Natal Rich Boyz getting a dream start to the second period. Their top goal-scorer for the ongoing season, Yanela Mbuthuma provided a crucial goal from close range when he tapped in to reduce his side’s deficit.

Things could have been level just moments later as Langelihle Mhlongo went for goal from a fair distance, only to direct his effort over the crossbar. Pirates hit back almost immediately with an attempt from a similar distance, delivered by Thalente Mbatha who also failed to find his bearings.

The Soweto Giants’ most promising period in the second half came with 20 minutes left on the clock when they managed to conjure up a few opportunities. Mbatha and Tshegofatso Mabasa each could have created daylight between the two sides if not for Otieno, who pulled off a couple of crucial saves to keep the visitors’ lead to a minimum.

The Kenyan international however had no answer for the killer blow delivered by the defending champions deep in injury time. It was delivered by Mabasa, who produced a superb turn inside the box before firing home to restore his side’s two-goal lead with very little time remaining on the clock.

There wasn’t a lot that the home side could do to claw their way into the contest following the late strike, as Pirates avoided a potential banana peel to march into the Round of 16.

Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Sesane, Xoki (Maela 75’), Van Rooyen (Ndlozi 50’), Mbatha (Dlamini 75’), Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Nkota (Shandu 65’), Mofokeng, Mabasa.

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.

A third straight title will be at stake for the Soweto Giants as they look to replicate the feat of the all-conquering team that donned the famous black and white from 1973 to 1975. That legendary outfit remains the only team to successfully defend the national cup title twice in a row and history now beckons for the Class of 2025 whose quest has been set out.

With the Natal Rich Boyz first up on the card, the two teams are set for their first-ever clash in the Nedbank Cup. However, the match will be somewhat of a grudge match following the Buccaneers’ early exit from the 2023/24 Carling Knockout in their only cup encounter to date.

For the men from KwaZulu-Natal, the fixture is an opportunity to underline their status as giant killers, having also claimed the scalp of Pirates’ Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs at a similar stage in the 2021 edition. They have since failed to advance past the opening round in each of the three subsequent tournaments, and will be determined to turn the tide by ending the back-to-back title holders’ reign.

The 2024/25 Nedbank Cup is scheduled to begin later this month, with fixture dates, venues, kick-off times set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

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.