Orlando Pirates fixtures: Bucs will play 3 matches in just 7 days
Orlando Pirates’ fixture against TS Galaxy has been moved up to 13 October.
This game will come just 3 days after the MTN8 final, and 4 days before the CAF Champions League resumes.
With 2 more games this month, this will be an early test for the defending PSL champions.
A tight schedule in October
10 October – MTN8 final
Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns – Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban (18:00)
13 October – Premier Soccer League
Orlando Pirates vs TS Galaxy – Orlando Stadium, Soweto (19:30)
17 October – CAF Champions League (second preliminary round)
African Stars vs Orlando Pirates – Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone (15:00)
24 October – CAF CL (second preliminary round)
Orlando Pirates vs African Stars – Orlando Stadium, Soweto (19:30)
31 October – Premier Soccer League
Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs – Orlando Stadium, Soweto (15:30)
Between these fixtures, the Carling Knockout Cup begins on 24 October, according to the PSL website.
Times confirmed against the Orlando Pirates website and ESPN Africa.
Why is the fixture list so tight?
The TS Galaxy game, initially scheduled for 18 October, was rescheduled due to a clash with continental games.
This has also affected Chiefs, Sundowns, AmaZulu, and their respective opponents, as cited by Soccer Laduma.
The initial fixture list would have given Pirates a week to focus on recovery after the MTN8 final.
Instead, they now face 3 fixtures in the space of 7 days.
Rotation crucial amid Orlando Pirates fixtures
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has already effectively rotated his squad to mitigate player fatigue.
This has been a real test of the Buccaneers’ squad depth, but there is some good news.
The club website has confirmed that Evidence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha are back in full-team training.
Mohau Nkota and Andre de Jong are also said to be “making progress” in their rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Sihle Nduli is set to undergo two weeks of field-based rehab before he can train with the rest of the team.
WILL ORLANDO PIRATES’ FIXTURES AFFECT THEIR QUEST FOR SILVERWARE?
Let us know your thoughts by clicking on the comment banner below.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.