Bucs look to dominate Leopards again
ORLANDO Pirates will look to entrench their dominance over Black Leopards when they battle it out for maximum points in an Absa Premiership tussle at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm).
The Buccaneers are yet to taste defeat in the league since Josef Zinnabuer took over the coaching reins from Rhulani Mokwena seven matches ago. The German will be out to keep that record intact against a struggling Leopards side trying to avoid relegation.
Lidoda Duvha have had a tough season that has seen them chop and change coaches in an attempt to turn things around. They are already on their third coach this campaign and will be desperate to get something out of the clash with their bogey opposition.
Leopards have lost all their last seven games against the Sea Robbers in the league. The bad news for the Limpopo outfit is that Gabadinho Mhango, the Malawian striker who is enjoying a rich vein of form, returns from suspension for the Buccaneers.
Mhango has scored 14 goals so far in the league and is sitting at the top of the scoring chart with his nearest competitors three goals behind.
He will be keen to extend that lead as he looks to bag the coveted Golden Boot.
Leopards have shown major improvement in the last three games in their own territory. They have beaten Stellenbosch FC and drawn with Kaizer Chiefs in the league and knocked North West University out of the Nedbank Cup.
Dribbling wizard Lesedi Kapinga will be the man to watch for the home side. In 20 league appearances, he has scored five goals with five assists.
The likes of Happy Jele and Alfred Ndengane will have to be at their best to keep Kapinga quiet. He can destroy opponents on his own if left unattended.
The Buccaneers will have to keep a close eye on him as his deft touches and movement make him dangerous.
Kapinga netted the consolation goal when these two sides met in the first round, a match won 3-1 by Pirates, who will be keen to complete the double and entrench their dominance over the Limpopo side. FIXTURES:
Today: Stellenbosch v Supersport (8pm)
Tomorrow: Sundowns v Chippa, Highlands v Celtic, Baroka v Wits (all 3.30pm); Chiefs v Maritzburg (6pm); Amazulu v Arrows (8.15pm)
Sunday: Leopards v Pirates, Polokwane v CT City (both 3.30pm)