Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants. Photo: Twitter @GOALcomSA

Nedbank Cup preview: Orlando Pirates v Marumo Gallants – Wednesday, 9 March

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants.

Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants. Photo: Twitter @GOALcomSA

Orlando Pirates will shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 when they travel to Polokwane for a midweek clash against Marumo Gallants.

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The fixture will take place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, 9 March

The Soweto giants will look to make another stride in the tournament having marched into the Last 16 with a narrow win over fellow top-flight outfit AmaZulu. 

Since eliminating Usuthu in the first round, Orlando Pirates have had a mixed bag of results across competitions, picking up two victories as well as the same number of draws and defeats in six matches. 

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They will have their work cut out for them against a confident Marumo Gallants side riding the wave of a four-game winning streak. 

The Limpopo-based outfit began the year with a Nedbank Cup victory against one-time winners Santos, and have since gone on to bag the scalps of Chippa United, Baroka FC and Stellenbosch FC in the league. 

Orlando Pirates have been boosted by the availability of in-form midfielder Goodman Mosele who missed the weekend’s Soweto derby through suspension, but will be in contention for a spot against Marumo Gallants. 

Captain Happy Jele is also among those who could return to the starting XI on Wednesday after featuring on the bench during the last two outings. 

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Key players

Kwame Peprah (Orlando Pirates): Having finished strong in 2021, the Ghanaian striker is back among the goals with two in his last three matches. Peprah will have good memories facing Marumo Gallants, following his quick brace to get off the mark in Buccaneers colours earlier in the season. 

Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo (Marumo Gallants): The playmaker has been central to Gallants’ recent impressive run, chipping in with goals at crucial moments. The 26-year-old is sitting at fi league goals this season, with six of them coming in his side’s last four fixtures. 

Head-to-head 

This will be the first cup meeting between Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants who have squared up twice in the league previously, with both meetings in the current season. 

The Buccaneers remain the last team to have inflicted defeat on the Limpopo-based outfit, following their 2-1 victory at Orlando Stadium late last year. 

They will be returning to the scene of their first ever encounter, which took place in August, ending in a goalless stalemate. 

How to watch: Orlando Pirates vs Marumo Gallants 

The game kicks off at 18:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL (Channel 202).