Mamelodi Sundowns v Orlando Pirates: Vilakazi wary of these 5 Bucs stars

Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Sibusiso Vilakazi has picked FIVE Orlando Pirates players he feels his team should keep an eye on.

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The two Gauteng giants will battle for three points at Loftus Versveld Stadium on Friday night.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

In his own words, Vilakazi singled out Pirates defender-cum-midfielder Bandile Shandu as one of the dangermen from the Soweto giants.

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Shandu has found the back of the net in two of his last two games for Pirates, and that is what makes Vilakazi wary of him.

In addition, Vilakazi admitted that Deon Hotto cannot be overlooked as he has done enough to carry this Pirates team with some crucial goals thus far.

“[They have] Bandile Shandu trying to come up as a defender and trying to get into a good goalscoring opportunity,” Vilakazi told the Sundowns website.

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“I think he had two back to back games where he scored so we have to look after him as he is a threat and there is [Deon] Hotto as well.

“[These are] people that are scoring goals consistently in back to back games, we have to look after those people, but not only them because for them to get into those positions it starts from the back with the four at the back which have been consistent for the last three games,” he said.

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Furthermore, Vilakazi made mention of midfielders such as Fortune Makaringe, Ben Motshwari and Thabang Monare as the other three players to watch.

And it’s the consistency in their starting line-up that is giving Vilakazi some sleepless nights ahead of this titanic clash.

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“Even in the midfield Makaringe, Ben and Monare have been consistent in starting games,” he continued.

“There hasn’t been that much rotation in their starting line up, it’s a consistent team that has been giving them rewards and has been giving them momentum of winning games,” explained the Meadowlands-born attacker.

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“It’s the whole team that’s on the pitch that we have to look after, everybody has their own strong point,” added Vilakazi.