Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns Match Preview

Can Mamelodi Sundowns end Orlando Pirates' eleven matches unbeaten run in the League and blow the title race wide open?

Venue: Orlando stadium Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 20h15

Coverage: SABC 1, SuperSport 4

TEAM NEWS:

Orlando Pirates:
Injured: Mark Mayambela
Suspended: Oupa Manyisa

Mamelodi Sundowns:
Injured: Calvin Marlin
AWOL: Katlego Mphela
Suspended: None

The TEKO MODISE X Factor

The match will be Midfielder Teko Modise’s first game at his former clubs home’s ground after leaving the Buccaneers under a cloud in January.Mamelodi Sundowns said on Friday it was ready for a hostile reception by Orlando Pirates fans when the two sides meet in an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Sundowns’ Alex Shakoane said his players are ready for any eventuality.

“We’ve got players at Mamelodi Sundowns who’ve been exposed to international football and who played before hostile crowds, so there’s nothing to fear,” he said.

Shakoane added that Modise is focused on regaining his form and will not be distracted by any heckling from his former club’s fans.

“We are on good terms with Orlando Pirates. We know that because of Teko they might feel like having been robbed of one of their top players, but we believe that Teko also is a big boy. He will be able to handle whatever situation.”
:Lindiwe Mlandu

Krol not worried about Teko

Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol says he is not overly concerned over the prospect of facing his former midfielder Teko Modise.
The Dutchman, however, says he will not specifically plan around Modise.

"It is possible that he knows a lot about Orlando Pirates, because he was here for a few years, but we also have Robyn Johannes who played for Sundowns for years before coming to us," Krol stated.

"It is not a big problem for me that Teko might know something about us that he can tell the people at Sundowns. The most important thing on Saturday is which team will be on form to win the game, not which player we must watch."

The 61-year-old admitted beating Sundowns for the second time this season will have a big say as to which team wins the league title.

"It is a very big game and Sundowns want to close the gap obviously.

"We want to make it bigger... we are at the top right now and we are going to try as hard as possible to make sure we stay there at the top.

"We want to stay three points clear and we must remember this game can have a big say for the team who wins the title," said the former Netherlands international.