Arrows out to prolong Pirates' winless run

Lamontville Golden Arrows will square off with Orlando Pirates in a DStv Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

Abafana Bes'thende stretched their unbeaten run to three matches when they fought back to hold Stellenbosch FC to a 1-1 draw at home on Friday.

The KwaZulu-Natal side is placed eighth on the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind fifth-placed Orlando Pirates and three points above 14th-placed Maritzburg United.

Vusumuzi Vilakazi, the Arrows co-head coach, is pleased to have silenced their critics and he is focused on making Abafana Bes'thende a better team.

“We’re only focusing on doing well as a team, not on what other people say,” Vilakazi said.

“What people think about us, we can’t control. People in football have their own opinions, and we can’t focus on that.”

“We understand our responsibility as coaches. We want to make Golden Arrows a better team and try to make sure we succeed in our mission. To make this club better.”

Meanwhile, Pirates' struggles continued as they extended their winless run to four matches when they drew 1-1 with AmaZulu FC at home on Friday.

Bucs are placed fifth on the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and a win over Arrows could elevate coach Jose Riveiro's side into the top three spots.

Kermit Erasmus, the Pirates striker, has made a heartfelt plea to the Bucs' fans to support the team and he is hopeful that the team will soon turn the corner.

“You know it’s a difficult one to take a draw with the chances we created but you know we got to stay positive," Erasmus said.

"We need the support from the fans to cheers us on and not to be negative, just to keep motivating us because they are the 12th man for us in the field.

"It’s important for them to keep motivating us and things will change, we just need a little bit more time.”

GOLDEN ARROWS: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Thabani Zuke: The Arrows defender and captain led by example against Stellenbosch and he grabbed a late goal to ensure that the game ended in a draw. Zuke will be determined to lead Abafana Bes'thende to a victory over Pirates.

Pule Mmodi: The quick forward, who has failed to find the back of the net in his last two matches for Arrows, will be eager to regain the form which saw him score in four consecutive matches and he has netted twice against Bucs in the past.

ORLANDO PIRATES: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Monnapule Saleng: The speedy winger is slowly cementing his place in the Bucs team and he was just unlucky not to score against AmaZulu. Saleng will be keen to score his first goal for the Buccaneers when he faces Arrows.

Kermit Erasmus: Pirates will pin their hopes of ending their current winless run on the 32-year-old striker whose strike led to Veli Mothwa netting an own goal against AmaZulu and he will now be eager to open his scoring account for the season.