Orlando Pirates vs Ajax Cape Town – our predictions

Phakaaathi’s Jonty Mark and Khaya Ndubane give their views on who will win on the day, and why.

Why Pirates will win (Khaya Ndubane, Online Content Manager)

Prior to suffering the 3-0 loss to Ajax, Pirates had not lost to them in their last five games. Of those five games, Bucs won four and drew one. Therefore, one cannot rule out complacency in their loss against the Urban Warriors.

Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic said this week that their job as the technical team is to make the Bucs supporters happy and there’s no better way of making them happy than bringing in the silverware. This is a home game for Pirates and therefore the fans will be looking for nothing but victory tonight and I don’t see Pirates disappoint them.

Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral will in no doubt employ a more cautious approach in this game, so it won’t be a free-scoring game, but I expect Pirates to win this one comfortably.

Prediction: Orlando Pirates 2 Ajax Cape Town 0

Why Ajax will win (Jonty Mark, Phakaaathi Editor)

Ajax Cape Town are beginning to find their feet again under Muhsin Ertugral, winning two and losing just one of their last five league games to keep them right in the hunt to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

This could all change in the dock, if Ajax are punished for their continuing decision to field striker Tendai Ndoro, which appears to go against Fifa regulations.

For now, however, the Urban Warriors will probably carry on regardless and field Ndoro again in Saturday evening’s Nedbank Cup last 32 clash at Orlando Pirates.

On January 31, Pirates lodged a protest about Ndoro’s participation in a league match against them in Cape Town, and these pre-match antics may actually have proved an unwelcome distraction, as the Urban Warriors ended up beating the Buccaneers 3-0.

This result has to give Ajax confidence that they can beat Pirates again at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. Ertugral had a well-publicised short spell coaching Pirates, but one should not under-estimate his inside knowledge of how the Buccaneers operate, or indeed that of Ndoro, who will no doubt be determined to bag a goal against his former employer, something he did not do in the league game.

Yannick Zakri got a brace in that match, and if he is back alongside Ndoro on Saturday, these two could torment a Pirates defence that has looked wobbly, even with their revival in 2018. I am going to back Ajax to take this encounter, 2-1.

Prediction: Orlando Pirates 1 Ajax Cape Town 2