Betway Premiership Preview: Marumo Gallants

Orlando Pirates are back home after a week on the road, making a highly-anticipated return to Orlando Amstel Arena for Saturday’s Betway Premiership fixture against Marumo Gallants.

The fixture signals a key point in the Buccaneers’ Premiership journey as it marks the beginning of the second half of their campaign. Awaiting them is a Gallants outfit desperate to halt their momentum in a quest to rescue their own season.

The clash between the two sides is the main attraction in the weekend’s league action, matching up two sides that have been acquainted a few times during the ongoing season.

The Opposition

What was a promising start to the season has turned into a distant memory for Gallants, who have rapidly slid down the table over the past few months. They currently find themselves in 13th place in the standings, with the threat of slipping further down should they fail to turn their fortunes around.

Not only have Bahlabani Ba Ntwa failed to register a point in three league fixtures played in 2026, they are also yet to find the net with the most recent goal credited to their name dating back as far as November. Their woes have been further exacerbated by a first-round exit in the Nedbank Cup, where they conceded late in extra time away to TS Galaxy to make it four straight defeats in the new year. It’s a disappointing run they will hope to bring to an end as they remain on the road for the second weekend running.

Turning the corner will however require a feat they have not achieved in the Premiership since the opening weekend of the ongoing campaign when a stoppage time winner from Simo Mbhele handed them a valuable victory away to Richards Bay to kick off the season. Despite travelling for league football on seven more occasions, the three points earned at King Zwelithini Stadium still make up the bulk of their five points tallied up on the road while goals remain a scarce commodity with only four scored in eight away matches.

Now faced with the daunting task of toppling the Soweto Giants, the Free State outfit could hand debuts to the likes of Darrel Matsheka and Bongolwethu Siyasi, both yet to feature for the club since their arrival.

Bucs Team News

The fixture is an opportunity for Pirates to strengthen their grip on top spot as they enter into the second half of their Premiership campaign. They are three-points clear at the top of the standings, following a successful Durban voyage which kicked off with a 2-0 league victory over AmaZulu.

Their weeklong stay on South Africa’s east coast concluded with cup success and they now return to a familiar backdrop looking to further extend their unbeaten run in the league, which currently stands at 13 matches.

It’s a streak that began in the third game week of the current season, when they got off the mark with a 1-0 home win over Stellenbosch. They have since gone on to make a fortress of their iconic Arena, picking up all points on offer while not conceding a single goal.

This home record has been the cornerstone of the Soweto Giants’ steady ascent up the standings, and it’s a trend they will look to maintain in an effort to create daylight between themselves and the rest of the chasing pack.

Pirates’ bid to stretch their lead at the top has been bolstered by the availability of defender Lebone Seema, while the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Makhehleni Makhaula could be back in the match day squad after sitting out the weekend’s cup tie.

Head-to-Head

With the ongoing season halfway done, Pirates and Gallants have already traded some memorable blows in league and cup football. It was the men from the Free State who drew first blood on Match Day 2 of the Premiership campaign, netting a late winner to claim three points at Dr Molemela Stadium. This was before the Soweto Giants hit back in similar fashion in a high-stakes encounter at Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Relebohile Mofokeng’s extra-time strike clinched victory in the Carling Knockout Final.

The latter result was Pirates’ sixth win over Gallants in all competitions since the two teams first crossed paths in the 2021/22 season. They have met on eight occasions in the league with the Buccaneers emerging victorious on five of those, while Bahlabani Ba Ntwa boast two wins with only their first ever encounter finishing in a stalemate.

Saturday’s hosts are well ahead in terms of goals scored, having breached the Gallants defence 15 times while theirs has only been breached six times.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media platforms.

Tickets to attend the match are available for purchase online on OpenTickets as well as selected outlets nationwide.

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