Pirates aiming to keep unbeaten run going

Orlando Pirates will look to continue their unbeaten start to the DStv Premiership season when they welcome Chippa United to the Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) - Live on SuperSport PSL (channel 202).

The Buccaneers began life under Jose Riveiro with a 1-0 win over Soweto rivals Swallows last weekend before playing out to a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch in the Western Cape on Wednesday.

Pirates had taken the lead through new signing Nkosinathi Sibisi (45') at the Danie Craven Stadium, but the Maroons replied with an equaliser from Junior Mendieta nine minutes after the restart to earn a share of the spoils.

The Soweto giants are fourth in the table, one point adrift of leaders Royal AM, who remain the only team with a 100 per cent record in the top flight after two matches.

Riveiro accepted the result in Stellenbosch after admitting their performance improved markedly in the second half, despite allowing the hosts to score.

"I think it's a fair result. Both teams had moments during the game. The way Stellenbosch started the game was much better than us," the Spanish tactician said.

"First half very tough, we couldn't get rid of the pressing easily, a lack of depth in our attacks so we lost the ball too many times and we suffered the consequences.

"In the second half I think we were much better than in the first one. We started to play much better with more time in the rhythm that we want to play and in our best moment in the second half we concede the goal. But I think after the 90 minutes it's a fair result."

Chippa have yet to register a win with Daine Klate at the helm after he replaced Kurt Lentjies during the off-season.

The Chilli Boys kicked off proceedings with a 1-1 draw against SuperSport United in Pretoria, but they were no match for Royal AM on Wednesday as they slipped to a 3-1 home defeat.

Thwihli Thwahla led 2-0 at the break and even though Diego Appollis halved the deficit 15 minutes from time, Ruzaigh Gamildien struck moments later to seal victory.

The Eastern Cape outfit find themselves at the wrong end of the table once more in 13th place, although they are faring marginally better than Cape Town City and Golden Arrows, who lost their opening two encounters.

Klate felt there were positives to take from their loss in midweek and stressed they need to show the same application that was on display in the second half to stand a chance against Pirates this weekend.

"In the first half, I think we were poor. I don't think we applied ourselves properly and Royal AM were the better team," he said.

"When we came out for the second half we were much more positive. We played on the front foot, so the positive we take from here is how we ended the game.

"That is the way we need to apply ourselves from the first whistle. We must take the positives from this game because we have another game coming on Sunday, and we will take it from there.

"It is a difficult one [to take]. We will go back, have a look at what went wrong and work on it in the short space of time as we prepare for Orlando Pirates."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando Pirates

Eva Nga Bienvenu: The Cameroonian comes up against his former employers just one month after joining Pirates. He got off the mark against the Dube Birds, but made very little impact in his second appearance and could come back to haunt Chippa on Sunday.

Bandile Shandu: The 27-year-old gave Riveiro much to ponder after giving a good account of himself at right-back against Chippa, having seen Thabiso Monyane start ahead of him in the first game of the season. Shandu was a key figure for Bucs last term and will be keen to impress his new head coach.

Chippa United

Diego Appollis: The off-season signing from Cape Town City made a promising home debut, opening his account just five minutes after being introduced from the bench and threatened to add another against Royal AM late on in what was a lively second appearance of the season.

Etiosa Ighodaro: The Nigerian was brought in from University of Pretoria last week to help offset the departure of Bienvenu to Bucs and he featured for the opening 70 minutes on debut against Thwihli Thwahla before making way for Appollis. Expect to see more of him once he gets settled in his new surroundings.