Let’s take it back to Orlando!
Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns – DStv Premiership, 4 February, Orlando Stadium, 15h30
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TN8 semis first leg, October 1, Orlando Stadium: Orlando Pirates 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns; MTN8 semis second leg, October 22, Peter Mokaba Stadium: Sundowns 0-3 Pirates; Carling Black Label Cup, November 12, FNB Stadium: Sundowns 4-0 Pirates; DStv Premiership, December 30,
Who’ll ‘Dash’ Zwane’s hopes?
Having served a suspension against Sekhukhune United, “Mshishi” will be fresh and raring to go against Orlando Pirates. The number 18 has been superb in recent weeks at the apex of the Mamelodi Sundowns midfield diamond, with two strikers/ forwards to create chances for. After scoring 37 goals between the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons, he has been far less prolific this campaign. After 22 appearances so far, he has netted just two goals and it’s currently just one strike in the last 21 appearances having scored in the opening match. He is due a run of goals and Bucs could be in his firing line. As for “Dash” (Monare), it’s been a good few weeks. He hasn’t always been in the starting XI this season, playing just 42% of the league minutes and 35% of the available game-time if we include cup competitions. In the last four matches, he has been back in the starting line-up, twice alongside
Miguel Timm in a double pivot and twice as the lone holding midfielder with two attacking players in the midfield three with him. In his eight league starts this season, the Soweto giants have won six of those matches. In the 10 fixtures that Monare didn’t start, it’s just two wins for Pirates. If, and it’s a big if, Jose Riveiro again trusts the former Bidvest Wits man to hold down the midfield fort alone, it will be absolutely key he comes out on top against Zwane and whoever wins this battle may be the key factor to their side winning the match.
Battle of the lefties, right?
This season, there can be no doubt that left footer Saleng has been Bucs’ biggest attacking weapon. Despite playing a grand total of zero minutes in the first nine fixtures under Riveiro, he has netted seven goals this season. With those strikes coming in just 13 outings and 1,043 minutes, the former Free State Stars man is scoring a goal every 149 minutes on the field. Having netted twice in the MTN8 semi-final second
Loftus Versfeld: Sundowns 2-0 Pirates. The two giants will be meeting each other for the fifth time this season on Saturday afternoon, with the interesting fact being that the fight ends where it started – Orlando Stadium. Known as Es’godini sika Maminzela, it is an iconic venue that has played host to some of the most unforgettable matches in South African football history, long before Rhulani leg, he was again a thorn in the side of Sundowns in the league match on 30 December after the World Cup break. In that fixture, he cut inside Mothobi Mvala in the eighth minute to draw a superb save from Ronwen Williams. Then, with almost the last kick of the match with his side 2-0 down, he again had a big chance from which the ex-SuperSport United keeper denied him in superb fashion. For Rhulani Mokwena, stopping Saleng will be a top priority. Although he has scored most of his recent goals by tucking home first-time finishes from cutbacks, his dribbling and cutting inside from the right is his main party trick. In the 3-0 Pirates win in the MTN8, Aubrey Modiba was at left back and Saleng exploited the space behind him at will, before the fullback was redcarded in the last minute (with a second yellow card) for kicking the ball into the winger. Saleng also roasted the fullback for the early Kermit Erasmus opening goal in that match. For the Sundowns 2-0 win recently, Mokwena played Thapelo Morena at left back and he had a fine performance. It could again be the latter solution of using a right footer against an inverted right winger who is cutting onto his left. That allows the defender to tackle on his stronger foot to deal with the threat.
Can ‘Bhodlela’ bottle Sha-Sha?
In the three meetings between these sides this season, Shalulile has been missing for two of those. The one he did start was the 0-0 first leg draw in the MTN8 at Orlando Stadium. That day, the Namibian goal machine didn’t register a single shot in the match as a back three of Olisa Ndah, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Innocent Maela kept him quiet. That was his final appearance before spending three months out injured, so it’s possible that he was already carrying the sportsman’s
Mokwena was born or Jose Riveiro could point out where South Africa is on the map. This promises to be one such thrilling encounter, not in the least because whatever may have happened afterwards, and even if they may be unwilling to admit it, the Brazilians are deeply hurting from the MTN8 semi-finals humiliation they were subjected to by the Buccaneers and will be out to ‘settle a score’ once and for all. On the flipside, the Soweto giants must be getting tired of being Downs’ ‘punching bag’ as they have lost to them twice this season already and a victory will even things out so to speak. It may not be your usual top-of-the-table clash, but is a game where the badge has to be well-represented and three points is a non-negotiable. Ready? Let’s take it back to Orlando, as Soccer Laduma previews the clash!