Sekhukhune United’s quest to register 50 points in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season is off to the perfect start after Babina Noko beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
The Buccaneers made one change to their line-up that defeated Polokwane City in the MTN8 last weekend, with Tshepo Mashiloane replacing Bandile Shandu at right back to make his debut for the club.
Sekhukhune made three changes to their side that beat TS Galaxy 3-2 a week ago, with Daniel Cardoso, Thabang Monare and Linda Mntambo coming into the starting line-up.
Sekhukhune United start the #BetwayPrem season with all three points 💎🔥#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/6jc2lJiTDH
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 9, 2025
Both head coaches, Abdeslam Ouaddou and Eric Tinkler, were taking charge of their first Betway Premiership fixtures with their new clubs.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute as Bradley Grobler could not make contact with Tsepo Matsimbi’s cross, and Vuyo Letlapa’s follow up effort from the edge of the area sped just wide of the left upright.
Sekhukhune were lucky not to go behind in the 11th minute, as Deon Hotto’s cross was too far ahead of Boitumelo Radiopane and Cardoso’s attempt to clear the ball nearly resulted in an own goal as it hit the upright.
In the 17th minute, Keletso Makgalwa ran into the box, feeding Grobler, who took a quick touch with his right foot before shooting with his left, sending the ball over the crossbar as Nkosinathi Sibisi moved across to close him down.
Sipho Mbule launched a powerful shot from well outside the box in the 26th minute, forcing goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner to punch the ball behind for a corner.
Letlapa made a brilliant run through the middle of the field in the 38th minute, but his pass for Grobler missed its mark and rolled into the middle of the box unattended.
In the 39th minute, Patrick Maswanganyi charged towards the box, cutting inside of Cardoso to fire his shot off, but it was not powerful enough to trouble Leaner.
This could've ended differently for Sekhukhune 😲🤏
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 9, 2025
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Relebohile Mofokeng had the last chance of the first as he received the ball on the left side of the box, cutting inside to beat Matsimbi and shoot, but his shot could not find the target.
SAVED BY POST...TWICE
Hotto created another chance at the start of the second half as he played Radiopane in at the edge of the box but his first touch was too heavy, allowing Cardoso to get to the ball before the striker.
In the 48th minute, Pirates struggled to clear Sekhukhune’s freekick with the ball eventually falling to Monare.
His strike was denied by the woodwork and fell to Siphesihle Mkhize, who took a touch to set himself before placing his shot at the near post.
Sipho Chaine could not get to the second effort in time and the ball crossed the goalline, giving the visitors the lead.
Sekhukhune scramble to get the opener Esgodini 😲🔥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 9, 2025
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The Buccaneers nearly struck back immediately in the 50th minute.
Radiopane played a creative pass to Oswin Appolis, who attempted to chip the ball across the face of goal to Maswanganyi, but Leaner got a hand in the way to send the pass off course.
Sekhukhune were saved by the post again in the 74th minute as Hotto’s freekick found the open Mbekezeli Mbokazi, whose header bounced and ricocheted off the left upright.
Sihle Nduli could not reach the rebound and Yanela Mbuthuma’s follow up went wide of the goal.
In the 81st minute, Maswanganyi took a shot from far out, which sailed dangerously close to the target, but went over the bar.
Hotto was involved yet again in the 87th minute as he found Mbuthuma in the box, who could not keep his header down.
Despite their late efforts, the Buccaneers could not find an equaliser.
Ouaddou will look to get his first league win against his former side Marumo Gallants at the Dr Rantlai Petrus Stadium in Mangaung on Tuesday.
Sekhukhune will attempt to overcome TS Galaxy for the second time in two weeks at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday.
Orlando Pirates 0
Sekhukhune United (0) 1 (Mkhize 48’)
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, T. Mashiloane (T. Moremi 84’), N. Sibisi, M. Mbokazi, D. Hotto, P. Maswanganyi (K. Dlamini 84’), S. Nduli, S. Mbule (A. Mariko 58’), O. Appolis (M. Sebelebele 67’), B. Radiopane (Y. Mbuthuma 58’), R. Mofokeng
Sekhukhune United: R. Leaner, D, Cardoso, M. Thokolo, V. Letlapa, T. Matsimbi, T. Monare (M. Timm 70’), S. Mkhize, V. Mncube (B. Ndlovu 79)’, L. Mntambo (S. Malivha 79’), B. Grobler (C. Ohizu 69’), K. Makgalwa (M. Mampuru 64’)