Pirates get boost ahead of AmaZulu FC clash with return of key duo
Orlando Pirates have been boosted by the return of two key players ahead of DStv Premiership encounter against AmaZulu FC on Tuesday (19:30).
The league clash will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium and both teams will be backing themselves for maximum points.
Pirates will have their tails up after beating Cape Town Spurs 2-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup last Friday at Orlando Stadium. As a result of the win, they booked a spot in the quarter-finals, where they’ll face Richards Bay FC on a date yet to be confirmed.
The Buccaneers have already claimed their first silverware of the season. They defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 on penalties in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on the 7th of October.
On the other hand, AmaZulu will also be high on confidence after knocking Kaizer Chiefs out of the Carling Knockout Cup on Saturday at FNB Stadium.
The loss to Usuthu was the final nail to the coffin for Molefi Ntseki, who parted ways with Chiefs by mutual consent on Monday. Ntseki took over the hot seat at Amakhosi in June, and he has been fired four months into the job.
The Buccaneers last played a DStv Premiership match when they lost 1-0 to Sundowns on the 20th of September. They return to league action after their CAF Champions League journey came to an end.
ORLANDO PIRATES SET TO WELCOME ZAKHELE LEPASA AND MONNAPULE SALENG
Pirates’ push to close the gap on Masandawana got a major boost as Zakhele Lepasa and Monnapule Saleng returns.
Sundowns occupies the top spot on log standings with 24 points after eight games. Meanwhile, the Ghosts are sitting in 14th place with seven points after playing just five league games. They are 17 points behind Sundowns with three games in hand.
Lepasa and Saleng, who both withdrew from the Bafana Bafana squad due to injuries, travelled with Pirates to Durban. The attacking duo missed the Pirates clash against Spurs after the FIFA break.
In the absence of Lepasa and Saleng, Jose Riveiro turned to Thembinkosi Lorch and Evidence Makgopa as the two replacements.
Lepasa is currently the Pirates’ top goal scorer with 10 goals after 12 games played in all competitions this season. Saleng has two goals and one assist to his name in 12 appearances for the Soweto giants.
It remains unclear whether the two Bafana internationals will walk straight into the starting line-up or Riveiro will go with a team that did the job against the Urban Warriors.
RELATED STORY: Riveiro explains why Saleng has hit top form