Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has announced his strongest possible starting line-up for tonight’s clash against Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership.
The match kicks off at 19:30 at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale.
Pirates head into this fixture with a strong historical record against Golden Arrows, having won 27 of their 44 encounters since 2004. Arrows have only managed six wins, with the other 11 games ending in draws. Their most recent victory over Pirates came on 2 February 2021, when they won 2-0 at home. However, in the last five meetings, Pirates have won four, with one match ending in a draw.
Riveiro has largely kept the core of his squad intact, with Thalente Mbatha making a return to the starting line-up after missing a few matches due to injury, not disciplinary issues. Bandile Shandu also returns to the lineup after struggling to secure regular game time in recent months.
On the other side, Golden Arrows, under the leadership of Kagisho Dikgacoi and Musa Bilankulu, have gone with a more experienced line-up. Gladwin Shitolo will captain the team, which also includes players like Velemseni Ndwandwe and Nduduzo Sibiya.
Starting XIs:
Golden Arrows: Watenga, Shitolo, Theron, S. Cele, Phillips, L. Dube, Zwane, Sibeko, Ndwandwe, Sibiya, B. Cele.
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Shandu, Sibisi, Xoki, Makhaula, Mbatha, Hotto, Mabasa, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng.
