Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro will have an opportunity to avenge the Carling Knockout loss against Magesi when the two teams meet on Sunday in the Premier Soccer League outing.
The Buccaneers have had a good start to the season across all competitions as opposed to Dikwena tsa Meetse who have been blowing hot and cold.
The hosts will come into the game, which will be played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, knowing they have to get a positive outcome to boost their chances of getting out of the relegation zone.
Form Guide and head-to-head
Since beating Mamelodi Sundowns to lift the Carling Knockout, Magesi have not won any of their last three matches across all competitions.
They have lost to Chippa United, Marumo Gallants, and SuperSport in the PSL, and against Carling All-Stars in the Black Label Cup game.
The Buccaneers have suffered just one loss in the league this season. Pirates won eight out of the nine outings which puts them second on the table, behind Sundowns who have 27 points having played 10 matches.
In the head-to-head record, this is the first league meeting between the teams. However, they met in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 and Magesi registered a 3-2 win.
What they said
“The human level of the group this season is something else, to be honest, they make us feel proud almost every day with things I cannot say publically, that belong to the privacy of the team,” coach Jose Riveiro told the media after recent 8-1 win over Gallants.
“We need everybody, we’re going into a very congested period of games, in January, and February, it’s nice to see Tapelo back also, making the first minutes after a long time out of the field,” he continued.
“Azola Tshobeni is also coming on and getting some minutes. Gibele [Gilberto] is also showing little by little the player he can be for the team, so there is a lot of good news around the result. It’s important [the result] but the small details around the 90 minutes there are many positives.”
Magesi and Pirates Team News, Starting XI
Magesi have no injury concerns but the recent exit of coach Clinton Larson has definitely had a negative impact on the players ahead of the crucial game.
Orlando Pirates will have to do without their top striker Tshegofatso Mabasa who is suspended after accumulating four yellow cards.
Magesi Probable XI: Chipezeze, Mzava, Komape, Mokone, Mashigo, Mekoa, Darpoh, Kakora, Rademeyer, Chirambadare, Makhubu
Pirates Probable XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula, Dlamini, Mbatha, Sesane, Nkota, Makgopa, Mofokeng.
Time & Where to Watch
The match will kick off at 15.30 at the Orlando Stadium and will be live on SuperSport TV PSL channel 202.
