No matter how lopsided the two teams' records were this season, Sekhukhune United head coach Papi Zothwane was certain his squad could advance to the Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinals by defeating Orlando Pirates. But the Soweto giants advanced to the semi-finals with a 1-0 win, and his team lost for the second time in a row.

The much awaited matchup occurred on Saturday, 7 November 2026, in the Orlando Amstel Arena, as the two teams battled for a spot in the semifinals of the tournament.

With this match, Sekhukhune's losing streak against Pirates reached three matches for the season. These matches included their Betway Premiership encounter as well as both legs of the MTN8 semi-finals. Ahead of another crucial match, Zothwane maintained that his team's strategy will not be dictated by past outcomes.

When asked about his team's mental preparation for the battle that lied ahead in Soweto, the Sekhukhune coach said that his players were ready.

“You know what we're coming up against, we're confident. There's no coach who can approach a game with fear. You have to be confident in yourself and your approach,” Zothwane said, acknowledging that playing at the Orlando Amstel Arena could be intimidating due to the passionate Pirates supporters. However, he insisted that his team had the confidence to compete against the defending champions.

By stressing the need of approaching challenging matchups with confidence instead of fear, the coach also conveyed his team's belief in its capacity to win matches.

In addition, Zothwane advised that Sekhukhune should not stick to the same strategy he had when they faced the Pirates before, but rather should make tactical changes. But he was counting on his team to keep playing the way they had been recently.

On Saturday, Babina Noko's self-assurance was not enough to bring about the outcome they had hoped for.

After a close match, Orlando Pirates came out on top 1-0 thanks to a goal by Mpho Padime in the 31st minute, who took advantage of a defensive lapse to give his team the lead.

In securing their spot in the Carling Knockout semi-finals and maintaining their championship defence, the Buccaneers were able to preserve their lead until the very end.

The loss is the latest disheartening episode in Sekhukhune's frequent run-ins with Pirates.

Even if Zothwane had a good message before the match, the Limpopo-based team has to focus on their domestic campaign and try to improve in their next matches.

Source

https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2118992246670340493?a=VugAJgJXXM6y52KGBW4&s=19