JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 05: Alfred Ndengane of Orlando Pirates and Ndumiso Mabena of Bloemfontein Celtic during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium on March 05, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
PSL result: Orlando Pirates 3-1 Bloemfontein Celtic – as it happened
Orlando Pirates go head-to-head with a club struggling for its existence but also a club who took points off the Buccaneers last season.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 05: Alfred Ndengane of Orlando Pirates and Ndumiso Mabena of Bloemfontein Celtic during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium on March 05, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates open their 2019/2020 Premiership campaign at home with a tough match against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates head into the season openers off the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 Derby win over Kaizer Chiefs in last weekend’s Carling Black Label Cup.
The win aside that match has left the Buccaneers with a few injury concerns with Thembinkosi Lorch and Mthokozisi Dube sitting out training on Thursday. Lorch and Dube will face late fitness tests to determine whether they can be involved in the League opener. Update: Lorch and Dube will not be risked. Monyane and Nyatama start.
Three former Celtic players could line up for the Buccaneers against Phunya Sele Sele with Bongani Sam, Kabelo Dlamini and Tshegofatso Mabasa having moved up to Soweto. The trio seem unlikely to start with Pirates first-choice XI quite settled despite plenty of transfer activity.
The departure of Celtic’s reliable stopper Patrick Tignyemb has seen Pirates stopper Jackson Mabokgwane make the move to the City of Roses. Mabokgwane is likely to have to wait for his debut while he nurses a finger injury.
Last time out, Pirates came back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw that sent them top of the PSL.
Celtic face an uncertain future with the owners attempting to sell the club late last season much to the chagrin of the fans. Celtic ownership attempted to sell the club to the owners of Ajax Cape Town, who would have dissolved the club to secure a return to the PSL.
Most of the players brought in by Celtic in this transfer window have been free agents and their problems with cashflow have been well-documented. Celtic remain one of the PSL’s best-supported clubs though.
The late match on the opening day of the season will kick off at 18:00 at the Orlando Stadium and will be broadcast exclusively on Supersport 4.
Orlando Pirates vs Bloemfontein Celtic – Starting XIs
Starting XIs
Pirates: Sandilands, Jele, Ndengane, Monyane, Maela, Motshwari, Nyatama, Pule, Memela, Shonga, Mulenga.
Celtic: Chaine, Rikhotso, Letlabika, Tani, Pfumbidzai, Baloyi, Phalane, Maema, Maloisane, Masuku, Mabena.
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