Pirates the next obstacle in Gallants' title defence

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Mar 08, 2022. 10:00

Reigning Nedbank Cup champions Marumo Gallants will continue their title defence against Orlando Pirates in the round of 16 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa beat ABC Motsepe League outfit Santos 2-0 in the previous round to set up a date with the Soweto giants.

Dan Malesela’s charges have yet to drop any points in the DStv Premiership this year and the 1-0 success over Stellenbosch on Sunday was their third win on the spin.

Meanwhile, Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids’ side kicked off the year with a 1-0 victory over AmaZulu in the round of 32, when Deon Hotto’s 53rd-minute goal settled the cup-tie.

However, the Buccaneers will be hoping the cup competition can provide a welcome tonic after they conceded the local bragging rights to arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat in the Soweto derby.

Pirates have picked up just one win from their last five games in all competitions, which came against Royal Leopards (6-2) in the CAF Confederation Cup on February 27.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in the Nedbank Cup and their fifth overall, with Pirates having won two of the four league encounters, the other two ending in draws.