Bucs bid to hit ground running
PIRATES TRAVEL TO TAKE ON HIGHLANDS Da Gama relying on Tendai Ndoro to make a good impression.
Orlando Pirates are aiming to start the new year with victory as they travel to Tembisa for a meeting with Highlands Park at the Makhulong Stadium this evening.
The Buccaneers ended their Absa Premiership campaign on a high last year, wrapping up the first round with a 3-1 victory over Free State Stars.
The result saw Micho Sredojevic’s side finish the year second in the league with 27 points after 15 games, three points behind leaders Bidvest Wits. Pirates have had seven wins, six draws and two loses which has made them firm league title contenders heading to the second round.
With defender Marshall Munetsi out of the game due to suspension, new recruit Alfred Ndengane, who joined Pirates from Bloemfontein Celtic late last year, may make his long-awaited debut for the Soweto giants after being registered with the league in this transfer window period.
“The Buccaneers will finally have the opportunity to unleash Ndengane, the no-nonsense defender who joined the club late last year,” read a statement on the club’s website.
Meanwhile, Highlands are eighth, having registered 20 points from the same number of games. The Lions of the North have only managed to secure four victories in the process, while registering eight draws and three losses.
Owen da Gama’s charges ended 2018 with a 1-1 draw against SuperSport United and will certainly be looking to climb up the table by getting maximum points against Bucs.
However, they will have to do the job without their top goal-scorer Mthobi Mvala, who is serving the final match of his suspension.
The Free State-born player has scored seven goals for the club so far, which also sees him as the league’s top scorer.
However, Da Gama has the likes of Tendai Ndoro in his attack, and he has the quality to do the job.
The former Pirates striker joined Highlands last year in September and has been looking to revive his career after being released by Ajax Cape Town. And helping Highlands to get a victory against his former side would be a huge morale booster for the Zimbabwean international.