Orlando Pirates head to the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Tuesday night with a point to prove. Their league campaign began with a stutter, losing 1-0 at home to Sekhukhune United, and the Sea Robbers will want an immediate response before a high-stakes MTN8 semi-final clash with Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend.
For coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, this trip carries more weight than just three points. Consecutive poor results ahead of facing the defending champions could dent both confidence and momentum. The club’s busy transfer window was designed to close the gap at the top after three successive second-place finishes now they need to show it’s paying off.
Gallants, meanwhile, are riding a wave of positivity after opening their campaign with a valuable 1-0 away win over Richards Bay. Coach Alexandre Lafitte will urge his side to keep building on that start, knowing that home points against a heavyweight like Pirates could set the tone for their season.
These sides are no strangers to one another. Pirates edged Gallants 1-0 in last season’s Nedbank Cup semi-final when Ouaddou was still in charge of Gallants. That adds a fascinating subplot to a fixture already rich with recent history.
Kick-off details
- Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
- Time: 19:30
- Venue: Seisa Ramabodu Stadium
- Broadcast: SuperSport TV, DStv Stream, Showmax
Form and head-to-head
Pirates have won four of the last five meetings, including an 8-1 demolition in December 2024. However, Gallants did claim a 2-0 home victory as recently as March this year.
- 13/04/2025: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Marumo Gallants
- 01/03/2025: Marumo Gallants 2-0 Orlando Pirates
- 24/12/2024: Orlando Pirates 8-1 Marumo Gallants
- 28/01/2023: Marumo Gallants 0-2 Orlando Pirates
- 24/08/2022: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Marumo Gallants
Key players
Pirates’ creativity will once again run through Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng, while the choice between Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa up front could determine how clinical they are on the night.
Gallants tend to rely on a strong collective approach, but their ability to frustrate opponents has earned them big results before. Discipline, defensive structure, and quick transitions will be central to their plan.
Betting outlook
- Match odds: Marumo Gallants 54/10 | Draw 24/10 | Orlando Pirates 13/20
- Tip: Pirates to win & over 1.5 total goals (1/1)
Given their head-to-head dominance and the urgency to respond after a slow start, Pirates should have enough quality to get the job done. Expect them to create more than enough chances — the question will be whether they take them.