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Pirates look to put one hand on title with City win

rugby14 May 2026 15:15| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates © Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates will look to move to the brink of winning the Betway Premiership title when they host Durban City at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT

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CURRENT FORM

The Buccaneers head into the match in great form, remaining unbeaten in their last 11 league matches and coming off two successive victories, including a dominant 3-0 win away to Magesi FC on May 9.

Pirates currently sit in second position on the Betway Premiership standings, three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have completed all their fixtures.

A win against Durban City would put Pirates on the brink of the title — level on points with Sundowns and moving to the top due to their superior goal difference with a game to spare.

A low-margin defeat away to Orbit College on May 23, depending on goal difference would then be enough to clinch Bucs' first league crown in 14 years, or simply avoid a loss on the day.

Durban City, on the other hand, come off a 0-0 draw against Stellenbosch FC at home on May 8, which extended their unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions.

The KwaZulu-Natal side sit in seventh position and will be determined to spoil Pirates’ title party while pushing to secure a top-eight finish for the newly crowned Nedbank Cup champions.

TEAM NEWS

Orlando Pirates will be without Tapelo Xoki and Sihle Nduli due to injury, while Kabelo Dlamini, Sipho Mbule and Tshepang Moremi are doubtful after missing recent matches through fitness concerns.

For Durban City, it remains unclear whether goalkeeper Darren Keet will return to the squad as the experienced shot-stopper has missed games since the Nedbank Cup final victory over TS Galaxy on May 2.

Coach Pitso Dladla stated that the team’s immediate priority is recovery, as they have played a lot of matches in the past seven days and they will focus on resting the squad, and managing minor injuries.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou

“We still have two games and definitely we want to make our fans happy. You know, 15 years or 14 years without a league title – I think we can start to smell it, we are close but we cannot touch the trophy yet," Ouaddou said.

“So we still have two games, we will see what happens. Credit has to be given to the fantastic fans that have really helped us and we are going to fight for them until the end.

“We pray to God to maybe follow their path... We are very proud of them. I think it’s a process of the club. This project of Orlando Pirates is well-managed by fantastic people who know football.”

Durban City head coach Pitso Dladla

“They (Stellenbosch FC) were really organised defensively and hard to break down. They got really physical as well," Dladla said.

"I think we were a bit anxious and wasn’t calm inside the box. We created a lot of chances inside their box but we never took those.

"Honestly, that is something we need to work on as a team. We going to have to go back to the drawing board and spend a lot of time there.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oswin Appollis, Orlando Pirates: The Bafana Bafana winger continued his sparkling form by netting his 12th goal of the season against Magesi FC, earning Man of the Match honours in the process. He possesses that X-factor to turn a game on its head and single-handedly inspire the Bucs to victory.

Jean Lwamba, Durban City: The in-form DR Congolese centre forward is on fire, boasting six goals in his last five matches and establishing himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the PSL right now. Lwamba will be determined to maintain his scoring streak and humble Pirates.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2025/26 Durban 0-2 Pirates Makgopa, Maswanganyi

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2025/26)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0

Durban 1 0 0 1 0 2

Away

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 1 1 0 0 2 0

Durban 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 1 1 0 0 2 0

Durban 1 0 0 1 0 2

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