Orlando Pirates are currently riding a wave of confidence following their (controversial) triumph over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby last weekend.
Next up on the Mighty Buccaneers’ schedule is a midweek clash with top four Betway Premiership outfit Sekhukhune United, before a highly-anticipated clash with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Derby Day Delight
With Sowetan bragging rights firmly in the bag, Jose Riviero and his merry band of Bucs continue to deliver joy to their massive fan base. This time around, they take aim at a Babina Noko side that have caught the eye in recent weeks. Indeed, the Limpopo-based outfit have welcomed seven topflight outfits to Polokwane thus far this season, claiming 16 out of a possible 21 home points.
This time around though, they are up against a well oiled machine in the form of Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers have been in exceptional form this season, having won 10 out of their 12 Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches, which has earned them 30 points — their best performance at this stage of the campaign in club history.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Orlando Pirates have a slight upper hand, with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five meetings with Sekhukhune across all competitions.
Player Spotlight
Overall, it seems that Sipho ‘Master Chef’ Mbule is enjoying his time at Sekhukhune United and is determined to make the most of his loan spell with Babina Noko.
On the pitch, Mbule has been showing signs of his former self, not forgetting that Man of the Match performance in the Carling Knockout Cup earlier this season, for which he received a R100,000 prize. In a heartwarming gesture, Mbule shared half of the prize money with his teammates, demonstrating his commitment to the team’s success.
During his most recent appearance in the South African topflight, the twenty six year old equalized against Stellenbosch. This followed an assist in the Nedbank Cup where his Sekhukhune United team downed Cape Town City 2 nil to advance to the Round of 16.
Read: Nedbank Cup: Last 16, Dates, Venues, and Kick-off Times Confirmed
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 19:30 on Wednesday, 05 February and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport channel 208 and can also be streamed on Showmax.
Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Stadium
The 45 000 seater stadium will host the clash between Sekhukhune United and Orlando Pirates. The Polokwane based stadium was refurbished to a state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and hosted several group-stage matches during the global football spectacle.
The stadium primarily serves as the home ground for Sekhukhune United, one of the teams in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL). That being said, it has hosted various PSL matches, including high-profile encounters involving teams such as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Sekhukhune United 36/10 | Draw 21/10 | Orlando Pirates 9/10
With a massive clash with Mamelodi Sundowns on the horizon, I can’t see Pirates slipping up here. That being said, I think Seema & Co will not take this one lying down.
I think the play is Pirates on the win and over 2.5 goals at 11/4!