LIVE | Orlando Pirates vs Orbit College

Orlando Pirates turn their attention back to the Betway Premiership as they prepare to host Orbit College at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

The Buccaneers are at home for another midweek assignment as they resume their hunt for league points.

Up against them are the league’s new kids on the block, who are aiming for their first big upset as they attempt to make their mark in the big time.

A busy season continues with a vital clash in Soweto in what is the fourth game week in the 2025/26 league season, where both sides will be desperate to make their way up the standings after finding themselves in the bottom half of the standings early on.

Hot and cold

One of the new additions to South Africa’s top-flight, Orbit College have blown hot and cold in their debut season.

They began life in the Betway Premiership with a narrow defeat away to AmaZulu before clinching their first points in the league with a 1-0 win over fellow newcomers Siwelele.

They still sit at three points after three matches despite turning out at home in their most recent outing, which produced their biggest losing margin so far as they went down 3-0 to Sekhukhune United in a midweek fixture played at Dobsonville Stadium.

With only one goal scored – courtesy of Letsie Koapeng against Siwelele – and four conceded, Mswenko Boys find themselves in 12th place in the standings.

Another undesirable result could see them drop even further down as only three points separate them from last-placed Richards Bay.

Midfielder Realeboga Potsana was a fitness concern following their most recent outing, where he lasted just 44 minutes and had to be withdrawn through injury.

He could miss the trip to Orlando, with the likes of Doctor Motswakhumo and Thapelo Mokwena among the possible replacements.

Bucs Team News

For the home side, Deano van Rooyen is again among the doubtful starters after he took no part in cup action on Saturday, following an injury sustained in his side’s last league game.

Orlando Pirates have, however, been boosted by the imminent return of defender Olisa Ndah, who has been back at training while fellow centre-back and captain Nkosinathi Sibisi continues to recover from a knock picked up earlier in the season.

The Buccaneers are emerging from a bruising encounter over the weekend, where they held their nerve during the penalty shootout to book their spot in the MTN8 final for the fourth year running.

This is after fighting back to force a stalemate against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium, with the highly-entertaining tie finishing with a 2-2 aggregate score after 180 minutes of action.

Focus is now back in the league where they will be hunting for another maximum points haul after a slow start to the campaign.

Having started the season with defeats to Sekhukhune and Marumo Gallants, Orlando Pirates got on the board with last Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Stellenbosch, where Kamogelo Sebelebele provided the winner as he bagged the second of his three goals netted in as many starts for the Buccaneers.

They’re just a spot above Tuesday night’s visitors in the standings, with the two sides only separated by the Soweto giants’ superior goal difference.

At 11th place, Orlando Pirates will be fully aware that their current position is nowhere near their lofty standards as they look to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches with the best possible result at home.

Head-to-Head

With Orbit College visiting Orlando Stadium for the first time in their short history, this will also be the two sides’ first-ever competitive encounter.