Orlando Pirates in talks over six Betway Premiership fixture changes

Orlando Pirates are negotiating new dates for six Betway Premiership matches that clash with their CAF Champions League group-stage campaign.

Pirates have been drawn in Group C alongside RS Berkane, Simba and Colombe Sportive, with the schedule requiring trips to Morocco, Tanzania and Cameroon between November 28 and January 22.

The affected domestic fixtures are against Golden Arrows, Stellenbosch, Polokwane City, Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu and Kruger United. All six are currently scheduled for Fridays or Saturdays and are expected to move to Tuesday or Wednesday dates.

Five of the matches are due to be played at Orlando Amstel Arena. The exception is the away fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld, a meeting between the two teams that have dominated domestic football over the past five years.

The proposed changes are:

– CAF Champions League, November 27-29: Simba FC in Tanzania – Betway Premiership, November 28: Golden Arrows at Orlando Amstel Arena. A possible new date is Tuesday, November 24.

– CAF Champions League, December 4-6: RS Berkane at Orlando Amstel Arena – Betway Premiership, December 5: Stellenbosch at Orlando Amstel Arena. The match could move to Tuesday or Wednesday, December 8 or 9, depending on whether Pirates reach the Carling Knockout final on December 12.

– CAF Champions League, December 18-20: Colombe Sportive in Cameroon – Betway Premiership, December 19: Polokwane City at Orlando Amstel Arena. Tuesday, December 22 has been suggested, although the date will depend on Pirates’ travel arrangements to Cameroon and the day selected by Colombe Sportive for their match.

– CAF Champions League, January 8-10, 2027: Colombe Sportive at Orlando Amstel Arena – Betway Premiership, January 9: Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld. Tuesday, January 5, 2027 is a possible replacement date, although the fixture’s category A status means it could be moved again.

– CAF Champions League, January 15-17, 2027: Simba at Orlando Amstel Arena – Betway Premiership, January 16: AmaZulu at Orlando Amstel Arena. The proposed new date is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.

– CAF Champions League, January 22-24, 2027: RS Berkane in Morocco – Betway Premiership, January 22: Kruger United at Orlando Amstel Arena. This match could be played on Wednesday, February 3, 2027, taking into account the long journey to Berkane, Morocco.

The final dates will depend on Pirates’ progress in the Carling Knockout, the Champions League schedule and the travel requirements for their group-stage matches.