Richards Bay vs Pirates: Will Soweto giants banish Carling Knockout hoodoo?

Orlando Pirates will hope to end their poor run in the Carling Knockout when they face off with Richards Bay in the semi-final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates have had a torrid run in this competition with just one win since its inception 1982, having triumphed in 2011, but have had a painful run with early elimination and losses in finals.

That includes last season’s shock 3-1 loss to Magesi FC in the Round of 16, having suffered a penalty shoutout defeat to Richards Bay two years ago in the quarter-final.

Orlando Pirates players in training. Photo Orlano Pirates

Pirates’ poor run in Carling Knockout

Pirates have been eliminated from the Carling Knockout quarter-final on six occasions, in the semi-final eight times while in the final, they have won just one of six.

They therefore head to the semi-final wary of what could unfold against a tricky Richards Bay.

Form guide

What will, however, give Pirates confidence is that they have lost just one match in their last 17 in all competitions, a run that includes 14 wins and two draws.

Since losing to St Eloi Lupopo in the Champions League, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team have won four and drawn one, the stalemate being last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Richards Bay in action. Photo Richards Bay

Meanwhile, Richards Bay have had a decent run by their standards with just two defeats in their last 11 games, with five wins and four draws over that period.

They are unbeaten in their last three (1 win and 2 draws), the victory being a 3-1 triumph over Durban City in the quarter-final of this competition.

Head-to-head record

Pirates and Richards Bay have faced off eight times with the Soweto giants winning four compared to two for the Natal Rich Boyz while another two have ended in draws.

The Buccaneers had three meetings with Richards Bay last season and won all of them, two in the league and one in the Nedbank Cup, and will be looking for a fourth straight win.

Yanela Mbuthuma Thalente Mbatha and Patrick Maswanganyi Orlando Pirates

Ouaddou wary as he eyes second trophy

“Since we have not played the game, we cannot start thinking about the final yet,” Ouaddou said as quoted by Flashscore. “It’s very important for us to prepare for the game, to analyse the opponents, and to respect all the teams.

“I think it’s going to be a very tough game. Because first of all we’re in Durban. They will be proud to play well against Orlando Pirates, they will also want to be one of the two teams in the final. For us, it’s important to be ambitious.

“Of course, we’ve won the first cup (this season, the MTN8), but all my players are ambitious and the club is ambitious to play this game and reach the final.”