After giving their legions of supporters fireworks and ecstasy in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal at Orlando Stadium last weekend, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are back to league action on Wednesday night.
Saturday’s Wafa-Wafa cup match may have ended in a 1-1 draw but it was one of the highlights of this season so far. The two clubs had the fans on the edge of their seats with some attack-minded football for the entire 90 minutes. The semifinal will be decided in the return match on Saturday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
But both clubs will be involved in the Betway Premiership action before the second leg. Sundowns will square up against Magesi FC at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane while Pirates will need to revive their league performance when they host Stellenbosch FC at Orlando. Both matches will kick-off at 7:30pm.
Coach can make amends
Pirates have lost their opening two league matches and are rooted at the bottom of the log table. A lot was expected from the Buccaneers, but new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou fiddled with the squad, resulting in his team losing 1-0 to Sekhukhune United and 2-1 to Marumo Gallants. So, the coach now has an opportunity to rectify the poor start after he witnessed his team in full flight against Sundowns.
Stellenbosch come off a confidence-boosting cup win over the weekend after grabbing the driving seat in their two-legged MTN8 semifinal tie against Sekhukhune United with a 2-0 win at Danie Craven Stadium.
They are set to embark on their second away league outing in as many matches, having kicked off their Premiership campaign with a home defeat to Kaizer Chiefs. Stellies registered their first league point last Wednesday away to Magesi.
According to the Bucs website, Wednesday night’s encounter will be the 13th meeting between the two sides since Stellies’ ascent into the topflight. The Buccaneers are one victory short of the Maroons’ tally of four wins during this period, having gone two seasons without registering a victory. They have only managed one point out of a possible 12 in this period, and it came through their most recent trip to the Danie Craven Stadium, where the game finished in a goalless draw.
Pirates’ newcomer Kamogelo Sebelebele crowned a wonderful day in the office with a well-taken goal and he will pose a threat for Stellies in Soweto.
Not so rosy for Downs
By their standards, Sundowns started the 2025/26 campaign on a rather lethargic note. They drew 1-1 with Chippa United before bouncing back with a 2-0 win over AmaZulu. They are lying at number five on the Betway Premiership log and will want to send a warning to their opponents that they must write them off at their own peril.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was forced to make an early sub against Pirates in the 15th minute after the captain, Themba Zwane, sustained a minor injury. Zwane’s availability is a big worry for Masandawana.
