The last time Golden Arrows beat Orlando Pirates, no Kaizer Chiefs players Pule Mmodi was still at the club during the 2020/21 Premiership season. Photo: BackpagePix
A REFRESHED Golden Arrows are expected to be geared up to take on the traditional powerhouses and league contenders, Orlando Pirates, in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
The match is set to unfold at Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday at 7.30pm, and the home side is determined to leave their recent struggles behind, aiming for a significant victory over the famed Sea Robbers.
Abafana Besthende, currently sit in tenth place on the league table having collected 20 points after 15 matches, a position that puts them in pursuit of a top-eight finish. However, their ambitions extend beyond just their standings as they have the potential to influence the league title race.
This makes Wednesday's clash a critical one not only for their own aspirations but also for the championship hopes of others with Mamelodi Sundowns expected to be keeping a close eye on the action in Durban.
⚽️ 𝔽𝕆𝕆𝕋𝔹𝔸𝕃𝕃 𝕄𝔸𝕊𝕋𝔼ℝℂ𝕃𝔸𝕊𝕊 ⚽️
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) February 16, 2025
Orlando Pirates completed 36 passes prior to Tshegofatso Mabasa's third goal against Baroka FC in the #NedbankCup clash!#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/Y0XJgB50rB
In stark contrast to their dreams, Arrows have encountered a challenging stretch of form, remaining winless in their last four outings across all competitions.
The team has endured two draws and two losses in all competitions, one of those resulting in Nedbank Cup elimination at the hands of Chippa United.
Such a dip in form would typically leave teams demoralised, but for Arrows, the break may serve as a much-needed respite, allowing them to re-strategise and reinvigorate before facing a formidable opponent like Pirates.
This match-up against Orlando Pirates, a club synonymous with football success in the domestic front, presents an opportunity for the Arrows to redeem themselves.
Historically, Pirates have been a tough adversary, but a noteworthy performance from the KwaZulu-Natal outfit could shift the momentum and give their season a much-needed boost.
Loyalists of the KwaZulu-Natal based side will have horrid nightmares of the last time they faced Pirates as they walked away with the club’s heaviest defeat in history as Soweto giants put seven past them in Orlando Pirates.
On top of that, Arrows have only won one of their last 15 meetings with Pirates, the last of those coming in the 2020/21 season when a Pule Mmodi brace decided the match in Durban.
Arrows’ leaky defence
At the centre of Abafana Besthende’s issues has been their leaky defence having failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four outings, including a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Sundowns a few weeks ago.
Pirates will head into this encounter with plans to hunt down Sundowns who opened the door to a revival when they suffered defeat to TS Galaxy last Tuesday. And having thumped Baroka in the Nedbank Cup at the weekend, the Sea Robbers are expected to arrive with an enormous wave of confidence.
The players and coaching staff are undoubtedly aware of the importance of this fixture and the response needed to turn their fortunes around.
As they prepare mentally and physically for the challenge ahead, all eyes will be on Mpumalanga Stadium to see if Arrows can pull off an upset against one of the giants of South African football.