Orlando Pirates will go in search of a perfect seven when they host Richards Bay in the PSL on Tuesday evening.
The Pirates juggernaut has been crushing opponents at will in the PSL where they are the only team with an 100 per cent record after winning all their six games to move top of the table with the maximum 18 points.
It is the joint best start to a league season by the Sea Robbers, equaling the 2002-03 campaign, when they went on to lift the title and Pirates supporters are hoping that the good run will end with silverware and not just act as pacesetters for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates can therefore make history by going one better against Richards Bay at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday and they will be encouraged by the Natal Rich Boyz’ poor start to the season which has seen them win just one league match.
Head-to-head
Jose Riveiro’s men host Richards Bay just one month after their last league meeting on September 29 when Kabelo Dlamini’s late freekick secured a 1-0 win for the Soweto giants.
Richards Bay frustrated Pirates on the day with Kenyan goalkeeper Ian Otieno pulling off a number of brilliant saves before Dlamini’s beautiful strike broke their resistance.
That was the second win for Pirates over Richards Bay in five meetings, coming after they had triumphed 2-0 in April 2023.
Meetings between the two sides have been tight with the 2-0 victory coming after a goalless draw in October 2022, which was followed by another 0-0 stalemate last November, before Richards Bay pulled off a 1-0 upset in May this year.
Form guide
Pirates have only lost one match in 15 across all competitions this season, being the shock 3-2 defeat to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout Round of 16, with two draws recorded over that period.
The Buccaneers have put together back-to-back wins in the league since the loss to Magesi and will feel that the KwaZulu-Natal side are a team they can beat given they are yet to secure a win since their opening day victory over TS Galaxy.
Worryingly for Brandon Truter’s side, they are struggling to score with just one goal in six league games, two in all competitions.
They will, however, be counting on their post-match penalties win over Cape Town City in the Carling Knockout quarter-final on Sunday to push them to an unlikely win at Orlando Stadium.
What have they said?
Truter is hoping the cup win over Cape Town will start a turnaround in the league where they are desperately in need of a win, having accumulated just five points from six games.
“I'm very confident that happy days are ahead,” Truter said after Sunday’s victory.
“To just get first beyond these 10 games, and then I'm pretty sure we will kick off from there. We have Pirates on Tuesday and then we are finished with them for the rest of the season. So, it's looking good, the future is looking really good, especially with the progress we are making in this team.”
Team news
Pirates have had a rare weekend off and will be fresh and ready after a one-week rest and do not have fresh injury concerns apart from those suffered before the win over TS Galaxy.
One interesting bit will be if coach Riveiro keeps trust with teen sensation Mohau Nkota, whose double secured victory against AmaZulu, putting the spotlight on the position of Monnapule Saleng, who has not been in the squad in the last three games.
Time, where to watch & ticket info
The match will kick off at 19.30 at the Orlando Stadium and will be live on SuperSport PSL (Channel 202), DStv Stream and Showmax Premier League for live streaming. Tickets for the encounter are on sale at TicketPro outlets.
Predicted lineups
Pirates predicted XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Monyane, Hotto, Mbatha, Makhaula, Dlamini, Mofokeng, Nkota, Makgopa
Richards Bay predicted XI: Otieno, Mabuya, Mabua, Allan, Mcineka, Mhlongo, Conco, Mthethwa, Mbuthuma, Ndelu, Ntusundwana
