Orlando Pirates are poised to start their defence of the Betway Premiership title with a match against newly-promoted Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
CURRENT FORM
The Buccaneers returned from their Spanish pre-season tour with mixed results: two wins, one draw and two defeats, including a 1-0 loss to NEOM SC in their final outing on July 24.
Despite the uneven results, Pirates remain clear favourites against Milford thanks to their superior squad depth, title-winning experience, home advantage and the quality of new arrivals integrated during the camp.
Meanwhile, Milford enjoyed an impressive run to the KZN Premier’s Cup final—highlighted by a 2-1 victory over Richards Bay on July 26 —before eventually falling 2–0 to AmaZulu in the decider later that same day.
As newly-promoted underdogs, the Stallions' chances of securing a win in Soweto are slim, but they can make life difficult by staying compact, remaining disciplined defensively and looking to hit Pirates on the counter-attack.
☠️ MD-1 ⏭ MD |1.08.26 🏴☠️
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 31, 2026
🎤 Assistant Coach | Mandla Ncikazi ;
"The preparations have gone well, but we have to apply ourselves. The biggest opponent for us is complacency."
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TEAM NEWS
There are no suspensions for either side coming into this encounter, but Pirates’ Kabelo Dlamini remains sidelined while Tapelo Xoki continues working on his fitness.
Both teams are expected to unleash new signings and Pirates could hand minutes to recent arrivals such as Neo Rapoo, Matome Mmolai, Thapelo Mokobodi, Sbangani Zulu, Ghampani Lungu and Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen.
Milford, on the other hand have added Admiro Chabangu, Khunganani Sigadi,Sanele Mthembu, Thabang Mabena, Nomandela Yanelisa, and Mnqobi Mbhele, among other reinforcements.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou
“A recently promoted team always has this passion, this motivation to be in the big league. I guess they have a very good team spirit if they managed to reach this level. So, it’s what we tried to work on in Spain. We worked on many combinations, a lot of different profiles in the middle, trying to see," Ouaddou said.
"I think we can have a good answer this weekend. For us it will be very important to keep the good principles, all the values that helped us last season to be successful and of course to continue to work to improve certain areas where we have to show quickly the superiority and to set the tone and to show that we are still starving of victories and titles.”
Milford FC head coach Xanti Pupuma
“At some point, we have to play them (Orlando Pirates). It is unfortunate to draw them first, but it is a challenge we are gradually embracing. We are playing the absolute champions while being the weakest team in the division. If you look at how we got here, we had to fight through the playoffs," Pupuma said.
"Kruger United won the second-tier league directly, so they naturally rank above us. Every other team was already established in the top flight, which technically makes us the underdogs. To get the champions away on day one—it doesn’t get tougher than that. We will embrace it, knowing it won’t be easy, but my only wish is that we show up and don’t get carried away by the occasion.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Oswin Appollis, Orlando Pirates: The Bafana Bafana winger is oozing with confidence after scooping the 2025/26 Betway Premiership Midfielder of the Season award after scoring nine goals and providing six assists. Appollis could hurt Milford by driving at their defence and creating danger in the final third.
Siphosethu Ndlabi, Milford: The 27-year-old attacker is Milford’s dangerman after impressing in the 2025/26 Nedbank Cup run to the semifinals, where he scored two goals, and also finding the net in the PSL Promotion/Relegation playoffs. He could be the player to torment Pirates and hand the Stallions a shock win.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Orlando Pirates and Milford.