Orlando Pirates are on a mission to secure their third consecutive Ke Yona Cup title, aiming to further cement their legacy in the tournament’s annals. However, they face a formidable obstacle in the form of Marumo Gallants, a team defying expectations with each passing round.
Form Guide
The Buccaneers kicked off their campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Richards Bay FC, another Betway Premiership contender. Patrick Maswanganyi set the tone early with a first-half brace, while Tshegofatso Mabasa capped off the win with a late goal, ensuring Pirates’ comfortable progression to the last 16.
Mabasa continued his fine form in the subsequent round, where his hat-trick dismantled first division side Baroka FC in another 3-1 triumph. This secured the Soweto giants a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against SuperSport United—a test of true resolve. The encounter ended in a gripping 2-2 draw, but the Sea Robbers showcased their mettle with a nail-biting 5-4 penalty shootout victory.
Meanwhile, Marumo Gallants have navigated their Ke Yona journey with steely resolve. They dispatched Pretoria Callies with a narrow 1 nil win during their opening fixture, followed by another slender 1-0 victory against AmaZulu in the last 16. Their quarterfinal showdown against Durban City saw them advance after a dramatic penalty shootout, prevailing 4-1 after the match concluded goalless.
Intriguingly, the last encounter between these two sides saw Marumo Gallants emerge victorious with a surprising 2-0 win. Despite being largely outplayed, Gallants displayed remarkable defensive resilience, capitalizing on goals from Gabadinho Mhango and an unfortunate own-goal by Thalente Mbatha.
While Orlando Pirates enter this semi-final as firm favorites on paper, the transformation under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has instilled a newfound confidence and tactical discipline in the Marumo Gallants squad. They arrive at this crucial fixture riding a commendable three-match unbeaten streak in the South African topflight, boasting two victories and a draw.
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 on Sunday, 13 April 2025 and will be broadcast live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary.
The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL channel 202 as well as SABC 1 and can also be streamed on Showmax and SABC Plus respectively.
Orlando Stadium
The 40 000 seater stadium will host the clash between Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants. The Soweto based stadium is expected to be filled to the rafters, as is the case when Pirates take to the pitch. The stadium was refurbished to a state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was used as one of the training venues for the global spectacle.
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Orlando Pirates 1/3 | Draw 33/10 | Marumo Gallants 8/1
This semi-final promises to be a captivating contest between two teams in buoyant form. A potential factor that could play a significant role is the demanding schedule faced by Orlando Pirates.
While squad rotation has been employed, it hasn’t consistently yielded the desired positive outcomes, potentially leaving them vulnerable against a well-rested Marumo Gallants side eager to seize their opportunity. Despite this, I expect Orlando Pirates to seal their spot in the final!
Back Pirates on the win and over 2.5 goals at …