LONG WAIT: When is Orlando Pirates’ next league match?

The Betway Premiership champions are juggling several balls this season in the pursuit of silverware. When do Orlando Pirates play again?

Orlando Pirates find a way despite mounting injuries

In the continued absence of injured midfield duo Sihle Nduli and Thalente Mbatha, Cemran Dansin, Thapelo Mokobodi, Simphiwe Selepe and Mthiyane have all gotten plenty of minutes in the Bucs engine room. They might be needed for longer than planned. What looked like a crisis on paper has proved to be a massive opportunity for some of the club’s emerging stars. Next up for Pirates is a CAF Champions League qualifying clash with La Cure Waves on Saturday 12 September. The champions’ next league match is on Thursday, 17 September against Durban City.

Nkota is a Buccaneer again

Bafana star Mohau Nkota’s 21 Saudi Pro League appearances last term only yielded two goals and three assists. It’s understandable, then, that the 21-year-old is back in South Africa to find his form again on loan. Nkota will vie for one of two wide starting roles with Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis and Ghampani Lungu. If only two of those players can start regularly, which two are the odd ones out? We could see Moremi handed a super sub role in the coming weeks, although Pirates have several competitions to juggle, so everyone should get plenty of minutes.

Also read: Pirates suffer massive injury blow?

Also read: Pirates crisis turns into an opportunity

Pirates post a unique sequence of results

The Sea Robbers have made a superb start to their title defence, winning four of five matches and drawing the other. Title rivals Sundowns have an identical record so far. After four consecutive domestic wins with 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0 scorelines, the champions have done something that no other Betway Premiership side has done in history. The sequence started with a 1-0 win over Sekhukhune in the MTN8 and continued with successes over Sekhukhune in the league, Sekhukhune again in the MTN8 semi-final second leg, and a 4-0 trouncing of Kruger United.