Pirates, TTM aim to rekindle that winning feeling

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Orlando Pirates will be aiming for a return to winning ways when they meet in a 2020-21 DStv Premiership match at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 5pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Tshakhuma fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Cape Town City on January 9, with strikes from Meshack Mapangule and Thembisani Nevhulamba. The result means Vhadau Vha Damani have taken six points from five home matches this season. The only team to beat them in Thohoyandou was Swallows FC back in early November.

But TTM have only won once in nine matches this season and head into the midweek tie a mere three points above the relegation zone, but head coach Joel Masutha is hopeful that his team will take confidence from their most recent result heading into Wednesday's clash.

"It was a game of two halves, we started very flat and we were very much sluggish. It looked like it was going to be a cricket score the way we were playing but after 30 minutes we regrouped and we started to play our way," said Masutha.

"We were the better team in the second half and we could've even sneaked in a winner. The never say die attitude which the boys showed [against City] is very much impressive and I think it will give us a boost for the midweek match against Pirates."

Pirates have won just one of their last five league matches after being held 1-1 at home by Soweto rivals Swallows FC on January 10, with Ben Motshwari scoring their goal in the derby. The Buccaneers have taken five points from four away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on January 2.

Pirates have only scored 10 goals in the league this season, the fewest of the top nine teams and head coach Josef Zinnbauer has admitted that this is a concern.

Tshegofatso Mabasa and Zakhele Lepasa missed the club's opening two games of the year through injury, with Terrence Dzvukamanja, who is yet to score in the league for Pirates, starting both games against Sundowns and Swallows respectively. Furthermore, last season's top goal scorer Gabadinho Mhango has only netted one league goal in the current campaign.

“We have to work in the next games also," said Zinnbauer. "We have a good team. We saw against Swallows because we had big chances to grab the three points, although we didn’t get them.

“I think, for me, it made me very upset. But in the next game, the strikers can score.”

In head-to-head stats, this will be the first top-flight league meeting between Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Orlando Pirates.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: TTM

Alfred Ndengane: The former Orlando Pirates defender has played every minute of the league season thus far, quickly establishing himself as an integral member of the TTM squad. Clean-sheets have been a rarity for the Limpopo club this season and the experienced defender will be eager to help his team keep what would only be their third of the campaign thus far. 

Thabo Rakhale: The wing-wizard is fondly remembered for the time he spent at Orlando Pirates, but while he has always possessed the ability to beat his man, his final product hasn't always been up to scratch. He will be eager to find the back of the net for the second time this season and inspire TTM to a famous scalp. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: ORLANDO PIRATES 

Ben Motshwari: The Buccaneers midfielder has started eight of Pirates' nine games this season and all but nailed down that deep-lying midfield role. With Thulani Hlatshwayo suspended, his importance in front of the Pirates defensive line could be amplified, but don't let his position foul you, Motshwari also boasts an eye for goal as showcased this past weekend. 

Deon Hotto: The Namibia international has played the full 90 minutes in each of Pirates' last four league games and is a growing threat down both the left and right flank for the Buccaneers. And while he often gets into good goal scoring positions, creating chances for others more often than not, Hotto will be eager to add more goals to his own game.