The hosts on the day return to league football following nearly a month-long period of cup commitments within and beyond South African shores. They square up against a battle-ready outfit that has worked its way up the standings while the Buccaneers’ attention was focused elsewhere.

Form Guide

The fixture arrives with just five points separating the two sides in second and third place, with the Soweto Giants higher up in the standings with four games in hand. They will need to put the disappointment of their last outing behind them, having exited the CAF Champions League in the last four due to a 3-2 defeat away to Pyramids last Friday.

That result in Cairo not only ended hopes of a second continental triumph, but also an unbeaten run that began in early March, consisting of five victories and three stalemates. A win on Saturday will go some way in putting that particular low moment behind them as it keeps them in the race for league honours after finding themselves nine points behind the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns having played two fixtures less.

The Buccaneers now bid for another maximum points haul while still boasting an impressive home record in the league. They have claimed 27 out of an available 30 points in Soweto, averaging 2.3 goals per match and only failing to find the net in a rare defeat against Stellenbosch. An equally key aspect of their dominance on home turf has been their efficiency at the other end of the pitch, where they have only let in six goals in 10 matches.

While this could provide some much-needed confidence heading into the clash, they will no doubt be wary of the threat posed by a Sekhukhune side that has proven more than capable of grinding out results away from home. Babina Noko are unbeaten in their last three league games on the road, seeing off Marumo Gallants and Cape Town City before picking up an important point away to TS Galaxy.

Their recent run has contributed to a tally of 10 points in their last five games away from home, propelling them to within a fair shot of a return to continental cup competition with participation in the Champions League within sight . Another three points at Orlando Stadium will keep that dream alive, while complicating things for the hosts who are one of just two teams in the league with any chance of claiming top honours.

Team News

The visitors have been boosted by the availability of midfielder Khulekani Shezi in the lead-up to the clash. The 24-year-old is back in contention for a spot in the match day squad after sitting out Sekhukhune’s last two fixtures through suspension brought on by a red card earned halfway through their victory over City. 

Babina Noko could however miss the services of midfielder Vusimuzi Mncube, who is yet to feature since being stretchered out 11 minutes into the clash in Cape Town.

For the Buccaneers, there are no immediate suspension worries with heading into the fixture. The likes of Thabiso Monyane and Olisa Ndah meanwhile continue on their road  to recovery after sustaining knocks in the past few weeks.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): Fresh off adding one more goal to his tally, Mofokeng is one of the in-form attackers at Riveiro’s disposal. The 20-year-old sits on 11 goals and 13 assists across competitions this season, underlying his ever-growing influence up front.

Sipho Mbule (Sekhukhune United): Possessing all the ball skills and physicality required to command things in the centre of the park, the 27-year-old has been a key addition to the Sekhukhune lineup this season. Mbule has operated in various positions in the midfield, chipping in with 10 goal contributions in all competitions.

Head-to-Head

Pirates and Sekhukhune have served up some intriguing affairs in what is still a young rivalry consisting of just eight league fixtures and two clashes in cup competition. It is the Buccaneers who hold a proud record in the fixture, winning five of their encounters in the Premiership while losing twice and playing to a single stalemate.

Both defeats have been away from home, and a one-all draw in May 2023 remains the only instance where the Soweto Giants have been unable to bag all three points on home soil. Orlando Stadium was also the scene of their biggest victory against the Limpopo-based outfit – a 5-0 routing in the opening round of the 2023/24 MTN8.

However, winning margins have been on the slim side throughout the league rivalry between the two sides with Babina Noko managing to keep the Buccaneers scoreless just once in their eight matches. Pirates have kept twice as many clean sheets, but are still yet to win by more than a single goal since first encountering Sekhukhune in the early part of the 2021/22 season.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 19:30 with the fixture televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets are available for sale online on OpenTickets while physical tickets can be purchased at various Shoprite, Checkers, and USave outlets nationwide.

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.

The result made it two wins in the last two matches for the Bucs Reserves as they cemented their spot near the top of the standings. They first had to deal with a nervy start as the visitors came out all guns blazing with the hopes of grabbing an early lead.

Babina Noko were not able to make their early aggression count as the home side came out unscathed. It took the Buccaneers eight minutes to really trouble the opposition goal as they went forward through defensive pair Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Senzelumusa Sibiya with the latter eventually getting a shot away, only to be denied by goalkeeper Ratisani Kgoleng.

Another five minutes elapsed before they found another chance as Cemran Dansin connected with Siphamandla Msezane, whose shot was deflected away from the Babina Noko goal. After further surges into the opposition half, Pirates’ toil paid off in the 24th minute when Msezane got on the end of another pass from Dansin, making no mistake the second time around as he finished past Kgoleng to make it 1-0.

Sloppy work at the back nearly led to another goal for the Bucs striker, who was located by Simphiwe Masilela before firing over the bar. Looking to draw level, the visitors came close to affecting the scoreboard just after the half- hour mark when they pushed deep into Pirates territory just to be denied by the woodwork.

They were presented with another chance soon after as the referee pointed to the spot after Bucs defender Jabulani Mokone committed a foul inside the penalty area. Samkele Sihlali stepped forward to take the penalty, but could not convert as he fired off target.

Pirates were able to hang on to their slim lead for the rest of the first half and came out in the
second period looking to double their lead. Opportunities eluded them however as they
encountered a Sekhukhune side determined to find an equaliser.

A succession of chances failed to yield results for the visitors with Bucs goalkeeper Ethan
Visagie making a couple of saves after the hour mark. They wasted a glorious opportunity
late in the contest when they surged deep into the opposition half, only to muster up a
wayward effort.

Pirates replacement forward Seth Green had the chance to put the result beyond doubt in
injury time when he worked his way into space but misfired with his shot at goal. That did not prove costly in the end, with the Bucs Reserves seeing out the remaining
seconds to make it eight points in their first four games.

Pirates Reserves XI: Visagie, Mbokazi, Ralenkoane, Mokone, Sibiya, Selepe, Ngwenya,
Dansin (Magadla 55’), Masilela (Green 55’), Mohlala, Msezane.

It’s the second home fixture of the new season for the young Buccaneers, who are looking to continue their ascent up the standings.

Form Guide
They come up against a Sekhukhune outfit determined to bounce back after squandering an early lead to concede a 2-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs last Saturday.

This was Babina Noko’s second loss in three games played this season, and they now find themselves in the bottom half of the table in 10th place.

The Limpopo outfit has however shown a glimpse of their ability to put a bad result behind them, having registered a 3-0 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows on Match Day 2, a week after going down 6-2 in their season opener against Cape Town City.

For Joseph Makhanya’s young troops, the main goal will be to maintain winning momentum as they look to secure back-to-back wins. They claimed their first victory of the new campaign in their last outing, winning 2-0 away to Marumo Gallants with Siphamandla Msezane and Seth Green providing the goals.

The victory took them up from seventh to fourth place in the standings, still unbeaten after
three games with five points claimed so far. Against Sekhukhune, they will be hoping to further cement their place near the top with three points taking them as high as second place.

Head-to-Head
The two sides produced back-to-back stalemates in their two fixtures last season. The first fixture took place at Rand Stadium and finished at a goal apiece, while their latter encounter failed to yield any goals. This broke a run of positive results for the Pirates Reserves, who had won each of their last four games against their Sekhukhune counterparts.

In doing so, they netted nine unanswered goals in what was a dominant start in their rivalry with the Limpopo outfit.

How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves va Sekhukhune Reserves
The match kicks off at 10:00 and will not be televised. You can keep in touch with the action as it happens by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.