Pirates’ latest test against PSL newcomers Kruger United

Orlando Pirates will face the newest club in the PSL on Tuesday evening, when they meet Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium (19:30), continuing a long history of matches against newly promoted sides.

The fixture presents a meeting between the league leaders and the team at the bottom of the table, but it also recalls the occasions when the Soweto giants have struggled against clubs making their first appearance in the top flight.

Kruger United are still searching for their first victory of the campaign after going without a win in their opening four matches. They will need a major upset to take three points against Pirates, who remain ever-present in the PSL.

Pirates’ record against newly promoted opponents has generally been strong, although there have been a handful of notable exceptions.

The first came in the inaugural PSL season, when newly promoted SuperSport United defeated Pirates 1-0 on 13 October 1996. Thomas Madigage scored the only goal of the match.

SuperSport United had been promoted from the 1995 NSL second division, alongside Crystal Brains, who were also known as Michau Warriors. Both promoted clubs were placed in the Coca-Cola Challenge mini-league, a competition introduced as South African football moved from a calendar-year schedule to the August-to-May season.

Since that defeat, only three other promoted clubs have beaten Pirates in their first league match against the Soweto side after reaching the top division.

Benoni Premier United recorded a 2-1 victory in November 2006, while Bay United produced a 2-0 upset in September 2008. Stellenbosch followed in October 2019, becoming the most recent newly promoted side to achieve the feat.

Every other promoted team has failed to claim all three points against Pirates in its first top-flight league meeting with the club.

That list includes African Wanderers, Santos, Seven Stars, Dynamos, Tembisa Classic, Lamontville Golden Arrows, Ria Stars, Black Leopards, Silver Stars, Vasco da Gama, University of Pretoria, Chippa United, Polokwane City, Baroka, Highlands Park, Sekhukhune United, Richards Bay, Magesi, Orbit College and Milford.

The original group of newcomers from the 1996/97 season also included Crystal Brains, later known as Michau Warriors. Pretoria City, meanwhile, became SuperSport United.

Earlier this season, Pirates defeated Milford in the first league meeting between the two clubs. That result added to the long list of promoted teams unable to overcome the Soweto giants in their first top-flight encounter.

Kruger United now have the opportunity to join the small group that have managed to defeat Pirates immediately after promotion. However, their difficult start and the contrasting positions of the two teams mean the Mpumalanga club face a considerable challenge at Mbombela Stadium.