Another eagerly-awaited match graces Orlando Stadium this weekend, with Orlando Pirates kicking off their Betway Premiership campaign with a clash against Sekhukhune United on Saturday evening.
It’s the first of 30 games in a marathon race for league supremacy among the 16 elite teams in South Africa, with the coveted Premiership title up for grabs at the end of the season.
Under new mentorship, the Buccaneers resume their pursuit of what has been one of their more elusive titles in recent years. Their opponents meanwhile look to build on the momentum from recent campaigns, having established themselves as a growing force on the domestic scene.
Both teams enjoyed cup success over the past weekend, and the focus this time around will be on securing maximum points to kick off the season.
The Opposition
Fresh off finishing in fourth place and equalling their best-ever finish since gaining promotion to the top flight, Sekhukhune United are looking to continue on their upward trajectory. They have become a permanent fixture in the top half of the league table in the past three seasons and are set for another appearance in CAF interclub competition. They will be eager to enhance their chances of making the cut once more through a good result in one of the toughest trips they will undertake in the upcoming season.
Babina Noko have a mixed record in opening league fixtures, winning just once in four attempts. They have emerged on the losing side twice, with one game finishing level. That stalemate came in their only previous away fixture on Match Day 1, when they played to a 1-1 scoreline against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
They will be confident of an early-season upset, having dusted off the cobwebs with a fighting 3-2 victory in the MTN8 against TS Galaxy last Saturday. That fixture showcased some of the new arrivals in the camp, with the likes of two-goal hero Bradley Grobler and ex-Bucs midfielder Miguel Timm making an immediate impact on debut.
The additions to the squad include two veteran goalkeepers in Zambian international Toaster Nsabata – back at the club after a short stint at ZESCO United – and former Polokwane City shot-stopper Manuel Sapunga. There is more Premiership experience in the new faces brought in to bolster the attack with attacking midfielder Ronaldo Maarman joining from Chippa United while striker Wonderboy Makhubu made the move from Limpopo rivals Magesi.
Bucs Team News
Much like their rivals, Pirates have been among the more active clubs in the transfer market. Five of the club’s new signings got a chance to run out at Orlando Stadium in last weekend’s cup outing.
More could make their first official appearance in Bucs colours this weekend as new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou takes charge in his first league game in charge of the team. Among the first-team hopefuls are Kamogelo Sebelebele and Tshepho Mashiloane – both unused subs against Polokwane – as well as the likes of Masindi Nemtajela and Lebone Seema, who both did not feature in the game.
All have a chance to help the Buccaneers to a dream start to the campaign as they look to improve on their previous showing in the league, where they finished with a handy tally of 61 points from 28 matches to secure yet another appearance in the CAF Champions League after finishing in second place.
Pirates have generally done well in opening league fixtures played on home turf, and are undefeated in their last three with their only loss occurring on the road when they went down 1-0 to Stellenbosch at the start of the 2023/24 season. The men from the Winelands are also the last team to walk away from Orlando with a point on the first game week, having done so through a 2-2 stalemate in August 2021.
Moroka Swallows and Chippa United have since attempted to stun the Soweto Giants on their turf early on in the season, but it was the home side that succeeded in kicking things off with maximum points on both occasions.
The hosts could extend that streak on Saturday, but will have to be on top of their game as they face an unpredictable Sekhukhune outfit.
Head-to-Head
Pirates hold a slight edge in this fixture in terms of head-to-head results, having won four of their league matches against Sekhukhune. They have emerged on the losing side three times with only one match ending in a draw.
Sekhukhune were however the last to claim maximum points in the fixture, doing so at Orlando Stadium in April when they clinched a tight 1-0 win through a second-half strike from Tresor Yamba. It was their first away victory against the Buccaneers, who have won twice and drawn one game in Soweto since first crossing paths with Babina Noko.
Things are evenly split in terms of goals scored, with each team breaching the other’s defences eight times during their young rivalry.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The match will kick off at 17:30, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL (202). Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media platforms throughout the game.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
