Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admits they started the Betway Premiership season "badly" and is determined to bounce back against Marumo Gallants at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Tuesday, August 12.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
Ouaddou suffered the first defeat of his tenure since replacing Jose Riveiro at the helm in the off-season when the Buccaneers were beaten 1-0 by Sekhukhune United on Saturday.
The Moroccan had started his reign with a 2-0 victory over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarterfinals on August 2 as the defending champions set up a mouth-watering tie with Mamelodi Sundowns in the last four.
The Soweto giants won the opening seven matches of the 2024-25 campaign to put early pressure on the Brazilians, but they ultimately fell away in the run-in and finished 12 points off the summit in second place.
Pirates were active once more in the transfer market as they signed no less than 12 players, including Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Chippa United) and Kamogelo Sebelebele (TS Galaxy).
Ouaddou insists there is enough quality in his squad to mount a serious title challenge to Bafana ba Style after seeing some promising signs against Babina Noko.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa also have a new man in charge after they appointed Alexandre Lafitte as head coach in July.
The Free State outfit, who relocated to Bloemfontein ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, won just eight of their 28 games to finish five points above relegated Cape Town City in 10th position.
Lafitte's side overcame the 39th-minute dismissal of Edgar Manaka to beat Richards Bay 2-1 in Durban on Saturday, with Bheki Mabuza and Simo Mbhele getting the goals for Gallants.
What was said:
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou:
"I think we've seen some interesting things in this game. Despite losing, we don't have to throw away some interesting things. But, of course, we've started the league campaign badly. It's not the way we wanted to start.
"It (the loss) doesn't give me a different picture of my boys. We have quality, I still say. This is just a bad start. We will come back."
𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓_𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) August 11, 2025
🆚 @_Marumogallants (𝐀)
📅 Tuesday ,12 August 2025
🏟 Dr Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein
🎟 @Computicket | https://t.co/3B9JraQSdv
🏷️ R60.00
⏲️ 19H30
📺 @SuperSportTV
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/MsA05FoA7m
Players to watch:
Marumo Gallants - Bheki Mabuza announced himself to Gallants fans with a stunning goal on his debut. The former Leruma United winger, who arrived in the City of Roses last month, broke the deadlock after just three minutes against the Natal Rich Boyz when he rifled a shot into the top left corner of the net from outside the box.
Orlando Pirates - For all their new signings, Deon Hotto was the one player to stand out for Bucs against Babina Noko as he created numerous overloads on the left flank. The Namibia international delivered a fine free-kick to the back post in the 76th minute that was headed against the left upright by Mbekezile Mbokazi and sent in a dangerous cross from the byline on 87 minutes that Yanela Mbuthuma steered over the crossbar.
Head-to-Head: (Last Five Betway Premiership Matches)
Matches - 5
Gallants wins - 1
Pirates wins - 4
Draws - 0