Sekhukhune seek revenge as Pirates stand in their way

Sekhukhune United will have to overcome a difficult history against Orlando Pirates when the two sides meet in a high-stakes Carling Knockout quarter-final at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, November 7.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 3pm, presents Babina Noko with an opportunity to end their losing run against the Buccaneers and book a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

For Pirates, meanwhile, the encounter offers another opportunity to strengthen their bid to retain the Carling Knockout trophy after falling short in the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers head into the encounter as favourites, having beaten Sekhukhune three times already this season. However, their opponents will be determined to change the narrative under coach Papi Zothwane, who took charge following the departure of Cedric Kaze.

The three previous meetings between the teams have produced six goals for Pirates, while Sekhukhune are yet to find the back of the net against the Soweto giants this season.

The results include Pirates' 1-0 victory in the MTN8 semi-final first leg, a 2-0 Betway Premiership win and a 3-0 triumph in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final, which secured their progression with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

But Saturday's cup encounter presents a fresh challenge, with Sekhukhune hoping that a change in leadership and tactical approach will help them overcome their familiar opponents.

Zothwane has acknowledged the threat posed by the defending champions but insists his players cannot afford to dwell on their previous defeats.

"You can't dwell on the past based on what happened in our past results against Orlando Pirates. It's a new game. Our job as coaches is to give the players confidence, give them the structure and make them aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Pirates," Zothwane said.

He added that his team would need to approach the encounter differently rather than repeat the mistakes of their previous meetings.

Sekhukhune will also draw confidence from their impressive 3-1 victory over Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout round of 16 at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on October 25.

Chibuike Ohizu, Thabang Makubo and Bethel Muzeu were on target as Babina Noko secured their place in the last eight.

However, their league campaign has been less consistent, and they will need to improve their defensive organisation and attacking efficiency if they are to trouble a Pirates side that has demonstrated its ability to punish opponents.

Pirates, on the other hand, arrive in the quarter-final in a confident mood after a convincing 3-0 victory over Milford FC in the previous round.

Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring before Tshepang Moremi struck twice in the second half to seal the win.

The Buccaneers subsequently registered a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby on October 31, with Yanela Mbuthuma and Moremi finding the net.

The victory reinforced Pirates' attacking credentials ahead of their cup assignment, with Moremi emerging as one of the players Sekhukhune will have to contain.

Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, however, has warned his players against underestimating their opponents.

He believes Sekhukhune's recent coaching changes could make the Limpopo outfit more dangerous, particularly given their determination to turn around their fortunes against the Buccaneers.

"The confidence is there, especially because we have been so balanced in the games we have played. We have kept our values, solid at the back, scoring goals, and that is something that can give confidence to the players," Ouaddou said.

Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has also made it clear that the club intends to compete for every available trophy after losing the MTN8 final.

The Buccaneers remain determined to defend their Carling Knockout crown while continuing their pursuit of success in the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League.

For Sekhukhune, the challenge will be to disrupt Pirates' rhythm, remain disciplined defensively and take advantage of any opportunities that come their way.

Their coach has emphasised the importance of scoring first, a task that will require a clinical performance against a Pirates defence that has been difficult to breach.

With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Saturday's encounter promises to be a significant test of Sekhukhune's progress under Zothwane and Pirates' determination to remain the dominant force in this particular fixture.

The Buccaneers will have home advantage and the psychological boost of three previous victories, but Sekhukhune have an opportunity to rewrite the script when the two sides meet for the fourth time this season.