Orlando Pirates will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s TKO penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs. The Absa Premiership table toppers Chiefs though will prove the sternest of tests. SoccerClub writer DEAN WORKMAN has picked out five Pirates players who could do damage against Amakhosi on Saturday.
Rhulani Mokwena’s chargers are in desperate need of some points in the league as they look to claw their way up the log. The Sea Robbers currently sit in seventh place with 13 points from 10 games and will be targeting a victory over their rivals if they are to somehow re-join the title race.
Chiefs come into the game full of confidence with a seven-point lead at the top of the log. Amakhosi have amassed 25 points in their 10 games and have only lost once in the league so far this year.
With the Glamour Boys in fine form, Mokwena will be hoping that his big players can take their game to another level in the Soweto derby.
SoccerClub has highlighted five players who could prove vital come kick-off on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
Ntsikelelo Nyauza
The 29-year-old defender will need to step up at the heart of the defence as his side is set to be without skipper Happy Jele, who was sent off in the midweek clash against Maritzburg United.
Nyauza has been a fixture at the back in recent weeks and the defender will need to be on top of his game to deal with the arial threat of Leonardo Castro and Samir Nurkovic, while also trying to contain the mecurial Khama Billiat.
Ben Motshwari
The central defender has come back into the team after suffering from injury earlier on in the campaign and has made an instant impact.
The 28-year-old was immense in the TKO game against Chiefs as he snuffed out any danger in the middle of the park.
Mosthwari’s ability to read the game and regain possession of the ball will prove vital if the Buccaneers are to walk away victorious.
Thembinkhosi Lorch
He may have made headlines last weekend for his altercation with Khama Billiat, where he could have easily been sent off, but Lorch was one of the main attacking threats throughout the encounter as he set up both of Pirates’ goals in the 2-2 draw.
Lorch not only possess pace and skill in abundance but he also has the composure to pick out the right ball or find the right finish when the opportunity opens up for him.
He will have to keep his discipline, but Lorch looks to have got under the skin of the Glamour Boys and will be hoping to yet again hurt Chiefs.
Vincent Pule
Pule has also struggled with injury this season and as a result missed a lot of the early season.
The former Bidvest Wits man was so crucial to Pirates’ form at the start of the campaign where he scored four goals and picked up three assists in their opening 10 games.
Pule has slowly been brought back into the team by Mokwena and has show glimpses of last seasons’ form.
A game against Chiefs will now provide Pule with the opportunity to get back on the score sheet and help reignite his team’s season.
Gabadinho Mhango
While it is not clear whether Mhango will start the Soweto derby or not, but after tasting the joy of scoring in Soweto derby last weekend, the former Bidvest Wits forward will be hungry for more.
Mhango possess pace and skill in abundance and showed last week that he will prove a handful for the Chiefs backline to contain.
His role could be from the bench, but surely Mokwena will be hoping that his new forward can kick start his Pirates career with a standout performance against their fiercest rivals.
