With the Betway Premiership rolling on this week, Kruger United remain in search for their first win of the 2026/27 campaign and will now prepare to battle against the free-scoring Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm (CAT, GMT+2).
CURRENT FORM
Pirates currently lead the way at the top of the table after collecting 10 points from their first four matches of the league season.
Apart from their 4-0 aggregate win over Sekhukhune United in the semifinals of the MTN8, the Soweto giants noted victories over Milford, Chippa United and Babina Noko in the league.
A 1-1 draw with AmaZulu during matchday two denied them a 100 per cent-win rate in the Betway Prem, but they could now extend their winning streak to three matches with a victory Kruger this week.
At the bottom end of the table, Kruger find themselves lingering in 16th position after four matches following a frustrating start to the season.
Kruger already succumbed to losses against Kaizer Chiefs, Milford and Durban City in their Betway Premiership roster so far, while a 0-0 draw with Marumo Gallants added to their woes.
WHAT WAS SAID
As arguably the team to beat in the Betway Premiership, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou recently expressed his coaching philosophy covers all areas of the game, contrary the club being largely deemed as a transitional side.
"But in my game model, I try to teach the players to be efficient in all phases. They must recognise the phases of the game. I cannot just come to tick the boxes of being a positional coach,” Ouaddou said.
"My game model is to train all the week, during our periodisation, our cycles, the possibility of our players to play a positional game, a transitional game, if we need. To recognise the attacking and defensive transitions. That's it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kruger United: Ebrahim Seedat – Now a veteran in the local game, Seedat could be in for a busy night against Pirates. With Pirates boasting one of the best attacking teams in the league, Seedat’s leadership and experience will be counted on throughout the 90 minutes.
Orlando Pirates: Mpho Padime – Dubbed the new Relebohile Mofokeng, big expectations await Padime this season. The talented attacker made his senior debut for Pirates during their 3-0 win over Sekhukhune United in the MTN8 semifinals this past weekend and will hope to put on another dazzling display against Kruger this week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
This will be the first meeting between Kruger and Pirates.