Orlando Pirates vs Chippa United: Preview, starting line-ups & where to watch

Published on by Joel Oliver

The Buccaneers begin their PSL campaign against the Chilli Boys

Orlando Pirates begin their quest for the PSL title when they host Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.

Jose Riveiro’s team are considered the only side capable of ending Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance and their title credentials will be put to test by the Chilli Boys on Wednesday evening.

Pirates come into the match high on confidence after their 2-0 victory against Jwaneng Galaxy in the Champions League last weekend, which saw them get revenge, at least in the first leg, against the Botswana giants.

Form guide

The Buccaneers are unbeaten in six matches in 2024-25 after four wins and two draws in the MTN8 and CAF Champions League.

Pirates beat SuperSport United 3-1 in the quarter-final of the MTN8 before a 2-1 aggregate win over Cape Town City in the semi-final to set up a third straight final and also eliminated Madagascar’s Disciples from the Champions League following a 4-0 win on aggregate.

Orlando Pirates 5
Monnapule Saleng of Orlando Pirates is challenged by Tshegofatso Nyama of Cape Town City during the 2024 MTN8 smifinal first leg game between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates at Cape Town Stadium on 28 August 2024 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

What is more impressive for Pirates is that three of the four wins have come at home, where they have only conceded one goal while scoring nine, a statistic that should worry Chippa United.

Pirates started last season with a 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch FC but will be keen to right those wrongs on Wednesday against a Chippa United side that will be playing their first match of the season.

Head-to-head

Chippa United played Pirate three times in 2023-24 with the Buccaneers winning twice and drawing once, having eliminated the Chilli Boys from the Nedbank Cup semi-final, before they went on to win it.

The first meeting was in the PSL in August 2023 which ended 1-1 before a 3-1 win in April and followed it up with a 2-0 victory in May. Kableo Dlamini scored twice in the 3-1 victory while Tshegofatso Mabasa notched a brace when Pirates won 2-0, which will be an extra motivation.

This game will mark the 23rd league meeting between the two sides since the 2012-13 season.

Of their previous 22 league games Pirates have dominated with 15 wins to Chippa’s 4 there have been three draws.

Chippa United’s biggest win in this fixture is a 2-0 home league victory which came in the 2015-16 season, while Pirates biggest win is a 4-1 triumph at home also in 2015-16.

Pirates had won seven successive home league games against Chippa from the 2014-15 season onwards until a 0-0 draw between the teams in the 2021-22 season.

At home against Chippa in 11 league games Pirates record reads W8 D1 L2, the two losses coming in the 2012-13 and 2022-23 seasons both 1-0 losses.

This fixture has seen a total of 50 goals scored across 22 previous league meetings, Chippa have scored 15 goals and Pirates 35 goals.

The most goals in a game between the two sides is 6 which was in Pirates 4-2 home league win in the 2018-19 season.

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Chippa United2243151535-20
'He's not a publicity coach': SA football legend hails Jose Riveiro
Jose Riveiro – Photo by Orlando Pirates

Team news

Pirates have no injury concerns with Jose Riveiro likely to welcome Tapelo Xoki and Bandile Shandu who have been out injured while Chippa United could unleash former Bucs stars Andile Jali and Siphelo Baloni who are among the 12 new players they have signed.

Time & where to watch?

The match will be played on Wednesday, 18 September at Orlando Stadium at 19:30 pm. It will be televised on SuperSport PSL and Showmax Premier League.

Pirates v Chippa Lineups:

Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndah, Sesane, van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Saleng, Mabasa

Chippa XI: Nwabali, Kammies, Modise, Konqobe, Makhele, Jali, Molaoa, Majogoro, Eva Nga, Kwayiba, Martin.

SUBS: Johnson, Mqokozo, Chabalala, Ntsabo, Teto, Philander, Ndlovu, Sithole, Matrose

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Joel Oliver

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.