Golden Arrows v Orlando Pirates – Saturday 26th November – Moses Mabhida Stadium (20:15)
Golden Arrows v Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates will travel to KwaZulu Natal to face Golden Arrows in the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout Cup. The game will be played at the majestic Moses Mabhida Stadium in front of a capacity crowd.
Golden Arrows won’t make it easy for the defending league champions and will be dangerous, especially with Coach Muhsin Ertugral at the helm. The former Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town boss is a master at winning knockout competitions and it would come as no surprise if Arrows were to upset the Buccaneers and go through to the final. Having knocked out SuperSport and Ajax already, the Arrows players are definitely going to feel that they can go all the way and win their second trophy in two years (following the MTN8 title in 2009). Arrows are coming off an impressive 2-0 win away to Jomo Cosmos. Goals in each half from Philani Shange and Thamsanqa Gabuza helped Golden Arrows end a run of three league games without victory. They are looking a much better team under the experienced PSL Coach, who is utilizing the many quality players they have in the likes of Robyn Johannes, Siyabonga Nkosi, Dillion Sheppard, Mzivukile Tom and Captain Thanduyise Khuboni. Robyn Johannes and Katlego Mashego will have something to prove to their former club and will not want to lose this match. Abafana Bes’thende will likely be without their lethal striker Collins Mbesuma who returned from international duty with a thigh strain.
The league champions dropped down to 8th place in the PSL over the weekend after losing 3-1 to Bidvest Wits at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. They are going through a bad period having won just 1 match in their last 7 league and will be hoping to change that form in this competition. Pirates suffered another setback as defender Happy Jele had to be stretchered off with what looked like a horrific knee injury during their embarrassing defeat to Wits. This is the only tournament the Buccaneers did not win last season and with one trophy in the bag already this campaign (the MTN8), you can be sure Pirates will be licking their lips at the thought of lifting another trophy, especially this one that they have previously failed to win. Key players like Oupa Manyisa and Tlou Segolela will need to start giving better performances to lift their side from the slump they are in. A major boost for Pirates will be the return of Benni McCarthy from suspension, who was the two-goal hero against Moroka Swallows in the quarter-finals.
Both teams play attractive football and this should be a great spectacle. Arrows are tipped to pip the Sowetan Giants.
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