Teams: Bloemfontein Celtic v Orlando Pirates
Date: 04 January 2020
Venue: Dr Molemela Stadium
Orlando Pirates head coach Jozef Zinnbauer will be eager to showcase his imprint on the team with the a trip to Bloemfontein Celtic in the return of Absa Premiership on Saturday afternoon at Dr Molemela Stadium.
Zinnbauer got his reign at the Buccaneers off to a winning start after a 3-1 triumph over Black Leopards the last match of the year.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that talisman Thembinkosi Lorch will be back from his two-match suspension, but the head coach has decided to leave the player out of the squad.
The Soweto giants will be under pressure to climb up the table, as they are currently placed sixth, level on points with seventh-placed Highlands Park and Golden Arrows but with a better goal difference.
On the other hand, Siwelele will be hoping the turn of the new year brings better fortunes after they ended 2019 with back-to-back losses to Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu.
As a result, they dropped to ninth on the table but they could leapfrog Pirates with a victory as they have a slightly better goal difference.
The Buccaneers won the reverse fixture 3-1 in the opening match of the season at the beginning of August last year under former coach Milutin Sredojevic.
Celtic: 16. Mabokgwane, 50. Masuki, 26. Ngobeni, 22. Rikhotso, 10. Mabena, 28. Khasipe, 11. Potsane, 13. Luthuli, 27. Tchilimbou, 3. Mahashe, 8. Phalane.
Subs: 31. Chaine, 9. Sera , 21. Letsoalo, 2. Tani, 34. Fikizolo, 25. Baloyi, 18. Mashikinya.
Pirates: 30. Sandilands, 23. Maela, 4. Jele, 5. Nyauza, 44. Mabaso, 6. Motshwari, 15.. Makaringe, 45. Pule, 17. Mulenga, 7. Mhango, 12. Shonga.
Subs: 1. Delle, 27. Ndengane, 29. Mako, 32. Mntambo, 11. Memela, 16. Mabasa, 18. Dlamini.
