Bucs look to bounce back

Cape Town - Polokwane City will try to add onto Orlando Pirates’ woes when the two teams do battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout.

Read: What's wrong with Pirates?

Vladimir Vermezovic’s side have suffered back-to-back defeats in the lead-up to this match, going down 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 final and by the same score to Chippa United in the PSL.

Pirates reached the final of last year’s Telkom Knockout, defeating Black Aces, Golden Arrows and SuperSport United en route to the final,  but they left empty handed after the Soweto giants were beaten 2-1 by Platinum Stars.

The Soweto giants have played 24 Telkom Knockout matches since the tournament’s inception in 2006, recording 17 wins, three draws and four losses. They have not won any of the three penalty shootouts they have been involved in.

The Buccaneers best showing in the Telkom Knockout era was some years back in the 2011/12 season when they won the tournament, defeating Bidvest Wits 3-1 in the final.

Polokwane suffered a fifth defeat from their last six matches and Kosta Papic have been in charge of two of those encounters before City axed Boebie Solomons. More recently they were humbled 3-0 at home by Mamelodi Sundowns at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

In League Cup history, Pirates have won the tournament once (2012) and been runners-up seven times (1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2010 & 2013).

Polokwane City competed in the Telkom Knockout for the first time in their history last season and were eliminated in the last 16, losing 3-0 at home to Kaizer Chiefs.

This will be the first competitive cup match between Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City.

The teams have met in three league clashes since Rise and Shine’s promotion to the top flight in 2013. The Buccaneers have two wins to Polokwane’s one, with the Soweto side’s second victory a comprehensive 3-0 victory recorded earlier this season.

Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City are set to go head-to-head on Sunday, October 5 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Kick-off is at 15:00.