Pirates brace up for tense Betway Prem double header

September 16, 2026 / September 16, 2026

Betway Premiership

Matchday 7
Orlando Pirates vs Durban City
Orlando Amstel Arena
17 September 2026

After a successful showing in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, Orlando Pirates will prepare to take on Durban City and Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership between Thursday and Sunday as they hope to close the gap on table toppers Mamelodi Sundowns.

Pirates will go into their next set of games sitting in second position on the league table, with 13 points from five games. The Soweto giants currently trail Sundowns by seven points having played three games less.

The reigning Betway Premiership champions last featured in the league on 1 September, where they claimed a 4-0 win away over Kruger United as they capped off a three-match winning streak before undertaking their CAF Champions League responsibilities.

Nonetheless, Pirates are unbeaten in the league so far with four wins while a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu during matchday two added to their points tally.

Durban City will enter their next game sitting in ninth position after accumulating just six points from five ties.

The KwaZulu-Natal side recorded a 0-0 draw alongside Stellenbosch FC last time out, a result that came after a 2-0 away win against Kruger United.

Overall, Durban City noted three draws, one loss and the single win from their first five matches of the 26/27 league campaign.

Amid undergoing an already congested fixture schedule during the early stages of the season, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou recently expressed that he could encounter personnel issues at right-back following the departure of Deano Van Rooyen to Mamelodi Sundowns.

While it remains to be seen whether Pirates will dip into the transfer market for another right-back, the Bucs mentor suggested that he could experiment with players in the position.

“It’s a big concern, [having one right-back], even Sebelebele. I love him, but I cannot push him to 60 games. It’s difficult; he’s not a robot,” Ouaddou said.

“I can find solutions sometimes, some emergency wheel, like when your car is stuck but the emergency wheel is not going to work all the time, especially with how we want to play; we want to play attacking football using the wide channels.

“We can use a central defender for one or two games, but in the important games you will definitely need somebody who is confirmed in that position.

“I can use [Gamphani] Lungu, but he’s coming back from an injury and the solutions start to be limited, but we will see.”

Head-to-head:

Games: 2

Orlando Pirates wins: 1

Durban City wins: 0

Draws: 1