Knockout football is first on the card as the 2024/25 season kicks off with the first MTN8
quarter-final between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
It’s a do-or-die fixture for both sides to start the campaign as Pirates look to further underline
their status as the dominant force in the prestigious tournament, while United will be eyeing an improved performance after falling on the first hurdle in the previous season.
Form Guide
The two Gauteng rivals come off a productive off-season consisting of friendly fixtures as
they prepared for a testing campaign ahead. Matsatsansa’s trip to Botswana featured victories against Masitoaka, Gaborone United, and Botswana Defence Force (BDF XI), with their only defeat coming against African Stars.
They netted an impressive 10 goals in the process while only letting in three, and their 7-1 win against BDF XI stands out as the biggest winning margin on their tour. The men from Tshwane now set their sights on the Buccaneers, who took to Spain once more for their pre-season preparations before completing their fine-tuning in more familiar surroundings.
In their four matches on tour, Pirates shared the spoils with Plymouth Argyle and Granada at
the Banùs Football Centre, while their trip to Seville yielded a 2-0 win against La Liga outfit
Sevilla. They concluded their stay in Marbella with a defeat against Qatar champions Al-Sadd, who
won 3-2 with Tshegofatso Mabasa’s quick brace in the first half not enough to ensure an
unbeaten tour.
Having taken part in more practice matches at home, the Soweto Giants will look to hit the
ground running in their first game of the season as they look to be the first side in history to
win the MTN8 three consecutive times.
Team News
The off-season has presented both sides the opportunity to bolster their respective squads, with the likes of Gilberto, Thuso Moleleki, and former United midfielder Selaelo Rasebotja each eyeing a competitive debut in Pirates colours on Saturday. The Buccaneers will also be missing some key squad members as Tapelo Xoki and Paseka Mako remain among those on the injury list after finishing the previous season sidelined.
Their opponents have meanwhile unveiled six new faces ahead of the new campaign, with
ex-Buccaneer Vincent Pule joining the likes of Pogiso Sanoka and Keanin Ayer who signed
from TS Galaxy and Danish outfit Næstved, respectively. Along with Rasebotja’s transfer to Pirates, there have been other departures in the form of Shandre Campbell and Kegan Johannes who are among those who will be turning out in different colours in the new season.
Key Players
Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates): One of the biggest revelations in the previous campaign, Mbatha enjoyed a fruitful spell in his first six months as a Buccaneer and will be eager to build on that as the new campaign kicks off. The quality possessed by the 24-year-old adds an extra dimension to the Bucs midfield, with his ability to contribute both defensively and offensively proving key.
Grant Margeman (SuperSport United): The midfield workhorse has been an energetic presence in the middle of the park, covering plenty of ground across the engine room. Margeman enjoyed a stellar campaign last time out, featuring in all but two of his side’s fixtures in domestic competition.
Head-to-Head
The 2023/24 season ended with Pirates and United locking horns at the same venue in a league fixture that ended deadlocked at 1-1 after Mabasa’s 41st minute strike was cancelled out in the second half by Gape Moralo.
This was yet another tight clash between the two sides who have had a tight rivalry over the
years, with the Buccaneers edging Matsatsansa with five wins to four in their last 12 encounters. The Tshwane outfit has however had the upper hand in knockout competition in recent years, winning each of their last four cup games against their Soweto counterparts.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 18:00 and the game will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC 1. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the Club’s social media channels. Tickets to attend the match are available online at TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.
SOURCED FROM ORLANDO PIRATES WEBSITE.
