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Pirates open season with Celtic test

football01 August 2019 14:14| © Backpage TXT
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Justice Chabalala. Thembinkosi Lorch & Vincent Pule © Backpagepix

Orlando Pirates will open their 2019-20 Absa Premiership season with a testing game at home to Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday 3 August. Kick-off at the Orlando Stadium is set for 6pm CAT.

Pirates ended last season with a 3-0 home win over Polokwane City on 11 May, but the result only saw them finish in second place on the log – two points adrift of champions Mamelodi Sundowns. They recorded 15 wins, 12 draws and three defeats for a haul of 57 points.

The Buccaneers claimed 28 points from their 15 home matches last season, with their only defeat as hosts coming against Bidvest Wits in August 2018.

"Players pushing each other‚ competing for places‚ looking to earn and deserve places in the team‚ is something that we were looking for," said coach Milutin Sredojevic in regards to Pirates’ raft of new signings.

"And we believe this will increase and lift us so we can reach that 10 percent that we have needed [to win trophies‚ or a league title]."

Celtic ended last season with a 3-1 home win over AmaZulu, a result which left them in eighth place on the log. They recorded 11 wins, seven draws and 12 defeats for a haul of 40 points.

Phunya Sele Sele claimed 19 points from 15 away matches last season: P15 W5 D4 L6.

"We appreciate the faith that management has displayed in our abilities," said co-coach John Maduka, who had his contract renewed alongside Lehlohonolo Seema and goalkeeper coach Simon Gopane.

"Our success is dependent on the players and we trust that we will continue to work well together. We also value the appreciation from the supporters whom we meet in the streets."

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and Pirates have met in 62 league matches since 1985. The Buccaneers have claimed 31 wins compared to 15 for Phunya Sele Sele, while 16 matches have been drawn. The Soweto side has claimed 20 wins from 31 home matches in the rivalry, suffering just four defeats in the process.

Last season Celtic took four points off Pirates, winning 1-0 at home in August 2018 thanks to a strike from Bongani Sam, while the return game in Soweto in March 2019 ended 1-1 after Luvoyo Memela cancelled out Tshepo Rikhotso’s opener.

ORLANDO PIRATES: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tshegofatso Mabasa – Celtic’s leading scorer last term was signed by Orlando Pirates ahead of the new season. The young forward did not get playing time in the Carling Black Label Cup last weekend, but could well make his official Bucs debut against his former employers. Fellow ex-Celtic players Bongani Sam and Kabelo Dlamini fall into the same category.

Thembinkosi Lorch – A fine Africa Cup of Nations campaign for Bafana Bafana was followed by a superb goal in the CBLC last weekend, marking Thembinkosi Lorch as the clear form player for Pirates. Celtic will need to work hard to keep him out of the game.

BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jackson Mabokgwane – The goalkeeper faces a tough test in trying to fill the void left by Celtic stalwart Patrick Tignyemb, but Jackson Mabokgwane will be fired up for this opening game against his former club Orlando Pirates.

Harris Tchilimbou – The Congolese forward was one of Free State Stars’ most potent attackers, but he was unable to save them from relegation last term. He has since switched to the green and white of Celtic and will be keen to start his Phunya Sele Sele career with a goal or two against Pirates.

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