JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 19: Coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates vs Ajax Cape Town: Starting XI, kick off time, live stream, head-to-head

The Buccaneers will be hoping to keep a good start going and maybe put some respect back in their name.

by Siviwe Breakfast

08-09-2017 11:12

in Premier Soccer League

After a disappointing league campaign last season, Orlando Pirates find themselves in what has become unfamiliar territory, occupying third spot in the table. Granted it is early days, they will be hoping to stay at the top when they meet Ajax Cape Town on Monday at Orlando Stadium.

Also read: Absa Premiership: PSL results for 22 August 2017

Last season both sides endured their worst campaign in recent years with the Cape side finishing tenth, a spot above the Buccaneers. However so far this season they have enjoyed contrasting starts with the visiting side second from last and yet to register a win.

After losing promising young defender Rivaldo Coetzee to Mamelodi Sundowns, the Urban Warriors will be boosted by the return of Mario Booysens from Maritzburg United. Other signings made by Ajax are Nigerian international Ejike Uzoenyi, Junaid Sait and Innocent Nemukondeni.

All eyes are on new Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic and his first order of business was cutting “dead wood” by releasing up to six players. There were also more high profile departures in Tendai Ndoro, the club’s leading goal scorer in the last two seasons and captain Oupa Manyisa who signed for rivals Sundowns.

Also read: Who are the highest paid footballers in South Africa’s ABSA PSL?

With the exit of Ndoro, Pirates will rely heavily on Thamsanqa Gabuza to bang in the goals. The striker will be hoping to do much better than his tally from last season of just two league goals.

With the departures came new signings, notably experienced Bafana goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands with midfielders Thamsanqa Sangweni and Musa Nyatama also joining the Soweto giants.

Head-to-head

The last meeting between the two sides was at Orlando Stadium towards the end of the season in May. The game ended with neither side finding the net. It was happy times for Pirates when they travelled to Cape Town earlier in the season, with the away side emerging 2-1 victors.

In the last sixteen encounters, Pirates have had the upper hand winning ten games to Ajax’ one, while five have been drawn.