Cape Town City face a tough task as they attempt to win their first Betway Premiership game since January when they face Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3:30pm CAT
CURRENT FORM
After Pirates’ Wednesday fixture against Golden Arrows was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the Buccaneers received some much needed rest.
Having played only 14 league games so far this season, Pirates sit in second place on the Betway Premiership log, 12 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns FC, who have played three more fixtures.
They are looking to bounce back from their defeat at Sundowns’ hands and overcome City, who bested them 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
Cape Town City have only won one of their last five Betway Premiership outings and are winless in their last four league games.
This poor run of form includes three losses and one draw. The side’s last victory came on 17 January in a home-win against Richards Bay F.C.
The Citizens have only scored 11 goals in 18 league games so far this season, with head coach Muhsin Ertugral citing his side’s lack of success in front of goal as a major concern.
TEAM NEWS
Following the Buccaneers’ Nedbank Cup clash against Baroka, head coach José Riveiro stated that his side have 25 players available to play, excluding goalkeepers.
No updates have been given regarding Thabiso Sesane, Zakhele Lepasa, Thabiso Monyane and Thabiso Lebitso, who were all ruled out of participation mid-week due to injury.
Pirates will be without Kabelo Dlamini who is suspended for accumulating four yellow cards.
Following their loss to Chippa United, Ertugral revealed that former Bafana Bafana midfielder Thulani Serero, who has been training with Cape Town City and is in advanced negotiations to sign with the club, will not be available this weekend as he is headed back to the United Arab Emirates to “quickly sort out some issues”.
The Citizens’ assistant coach Lebogang Manyama will return to the dugout after serving a one game suspension for receiving a yellow card in their defeat to Magesi two weekends ago.
WHAT WAS SAID
Cape Town City head coach Muhsin Ertugral
“This is our problem, we don’t score,” said Ertugral.
“When the game goes on, the dynamics in the game is always a bit different when we see outside or from above. You can see that it haunts the team. So then they really want to go to the wall. It doesn't happen.”
Orlando Pirates head coach José Riveiro
“I think that we can all agree that we must play for those three points," says Riveiro.
“We must do everything for those three points, if we want to continue having options to fight for the league. So we don't have that luxury of leading the lock with 15 points and start to speculate about who is playing or who is not.
"So we have to take every game as a final and make sure that we choose the right players, no matter how many yellow cards they have or they don't.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando Pirates: Buccaneers striker Tshegofatso Mabasa is in hot form at the moment. He has four league goals to his name so far this season and is coming off a hat-trick performance against Baroka in the Nedbank Cup.
Cape Town City: Thabo Nodada leads Cape Town City in assists, bagging three in 12 appearances in the Betway Premiership this season. The midfielder will need to play a key role in creating chances for his teammates if they are to succeed on Saturday.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (Last five Betway Premiership meetings)
Matches - 5
Orlando Pirates wins - 3
Cape Town City wins - 2
Draws - 0
☠️ NEXT_MATCH 🖤🤍
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🗓️ 22 February 2025
⌛ 15:30
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