On Saturday, Orlando Pirates travel to Cape Town City for a DStv Premiership match at Cape Town Stadium to begin the new year on the road.
As the halfway point of the league season approaches, it’s crunch time for all 16 top-flight teams, and the Pirates hope to earn three critical away points.
Form Guide
The Buccaneers’ comeback to competitive football was not ideal, as they were defeated on the road in their most recent match. After losing their last two league matches, they will be eager to return to winning ways.
The Soweto Giants have struggled for consistency throughout the current season, winning only five of their fourteen Premiership contests.
In their last five league games, they have won only once, tied twice, and lost the same number of games, scoring three goals and conceding four.
This has placed them in fifth place in the standings, six spots ahead of City, who are coming off a midweek loss of their own.
The men from the Mother City started league play with a hard-fought home triumph over Royal AM – their second victory in their previous five games – and have six points to show for it, having lost their other three contests.
Similar to Pirates, they have struggled in the Premiership this season, winning only four of 14 games.
Team Updates
There have been midseason personnel changes at both teams, with Craig Martin’s recent transfer from City to Pirates being the most notable.
Along with Ndumiso Mabena, who has returned for a second term with the Buccaneers, the quick wing-back is now eligible to start against his former team.
A few crucial players, including goalie Richard Ofori, are now ruled out for the match due to injury.
The hosts have added defender Lorenzo Gordinho, who might make his debut for the club on Saturday, as well as attackers Junior Mani and Juan Zapata, who have both had training sessions in the week leading up to the match.
Idumba Fasika, a Congolese international who has not played since the League’s comeback owing to a rumored knee injury, could be unavailable for City.
Key figures
Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates): Since making his long-awaited Bucs debut, Saleng has been one of the biggest surprises in the South African premier league, and he will once again occupy the defense’s attention. The 24-year-old will seek to pick up where he left off prior to the break, having scored five goals in nine total appearances across all competitions.
Darwin Gonzales (Cape Town City): The attacking midfielder joined the Citizens in the middle of last season and has rapidly established himself as an important member of the team, starting every league match this season. After scoring three goals in the first month of the season, the Venezuelan will look to regain his scoring touch against the Buccaneers.
Head-to-Head
There has been little to pick between these two teams throughout the years, with eight draws recorded in their 14 league meetings.
The Buccaneers hold a tiny advantage in terms of goals scored, with 15 compared to City’s 14. Both teams have two victories.
The visitors will be encouraged by their undefeated road record in this match, as they have won both of their matches away from home, where they are also unbeaten.
How to Stream the Orlando Pirates vs. Cape Town City Match
The match is set to begin at 17:30 and will be aired live on SuperSport PSL.
Real-time updates will be available on all Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
»Preview of the DStv Premiership: Cape Town City«