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Riveiro will watch from the stands as Pirates chase another win

rugby27 February 2025 14:42| © Backpage TXT
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Jose Riveiro © Gallo Images

Even though coach Jose Riveiro will be consigned to the stands due to suspension, Orlando Pirates will still be confident of a win when they face hosts Marumo Gallants in a Betway Premiership match at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 5:45pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

MATCH BACKGROUND

Marumo Gallants are set to begin a new era with Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou possibly taking charge of his first match (paperwork pending – or Duncan Lechesa and Sundra Govinder will continue as interim coaches).

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa recorded a 0-0 draw with Polokwane City this past Sunday, their first outing since axing head coach Dan Malesela and technical director Molefi Ntseki.

They come into the Pirates clash with a five-game winless run in the league, sitting just one position and two points above the relegation playoff zone.

Pirates, meanwhile, are chasing an eighth win in the space of nine matches across all competitions.

They came from behind to defeat Cape Town City last weekend – with goals from Tshegofasto Mabasa and the returning Goodman Mosele – and continue to keep their title hopes alive.

The Buccaneers are 15 points adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but have no less than four games in hand.

They will hope their arch rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, do them a big favour earlier on Saturday when they face ‘Downs at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

If Pirates can immediately capitalise on any dropped points from the log leaders, then the title race may begin to truly heat up.

Yet they’ll have to do so without the influence of coach Riveiro on the sidelines as he is suspended after picking up a yellow card (his fourth of the season, triggering a one-game touchline ban) last weekend.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa on his scoring hot streak:

“I pride myself on the goals that I scored. It’s truly something special, and if there is such a record at the club of the number of hat-tricks for Orlando Pirates, it’s something that I am definitely looking for. I am looking to break each and every record that I can stumble across.

“Hitting the back of the net feels great, especially if you are a striker. It’s my ability in front of goals. I think the whole country knows about me and knows about that.”

Marumo Gallants captain Edgar Manaka on his team’s fight against the threat of relegation:

“This is a game of pressure, we have to know how to survive the pressure, there is pressure everywhere.

“From day one, we knew what is expected of us, we take accountability at Marumo. We know what needs to be done to take the team out of the current situation.”

He added, “We are taking every game as it comes and we are compelled to fight with everything to get positive results in all upcoming matches.”

KEY PLAYERS

Marumo Gallants: Edgar Manaka

The hard-working and experienced Edgar Manaka is a key figure for Marumo Gallants – not just for this match, but in their campaign as a whole.

The former Black Leopards, Platinum Stars, Golden Arrows, Polokwane City and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila player will look to impose himself against Pirates.

Orlando Pirates: Tshegofatso Mabasa

The in-form striker has scored four goals in Pirates’ last two matches, and he will look forward to facing Gallants’ defence, which is statistically the worst in the league this season (30 goals conceded).

To further add to his confidence, Mabasa scored a hat-trick when he last faced Bahlabane Ba Ntwa.

In head-to-head stats, Gallants and Pirates have met in five previous league matches: four have resulted in wins for the Buccaneers, while their very first meeting back in 2021 was a goalless stalemate.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Orlando Stadium in December 2024, Pirates racked up a massive 8-1 win thanks to a hat-trick from Tshegofatso Mabasa, a brace from Thalente Mbatha, strikes from Dean Van Rooyen and Boitumelo Radiopane, as well as an own goal from Kenneth Nthatheni.

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2021/22 Gallants 0-0 Pirates

2021/22 Pirates 2-1 Gallants Peprah 2; Ntshangase

2022/23 Pirates 1-0 Gallants Mako

2022/23 Gallants 0-2 Pirates Saleng, Ndlondlo (pen)

2024/25 Pirates 8-1 Gallants Nthatheni (og), Mabasa 3, Van Rooyen, Mbatha 2,

Radiopane (pen); Mhango

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2021/22)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Gallants 2 0 1 1 0 2

Pirates 3 3 0 0 11 2

Away

P W D L GF GA

Gallants 3 0 0 3 2 11

Pirates 2 1 1 0 2 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Gallants 5 0 1 4 2 13

Pirates 5 4 1 0 13 2

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