Orlando Pirates lead Mamelodi Sundowns by two points with five matches remaining

The Buccaneers face Kaizer Chiefs in a high-stakes Soweto derby on Sunday as the title race enters its final stretch.

Orlando Pirates hold a two-point lead over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership with five matches remaining, while Sundowns have seven games left to play and two games in hand.¹² Pirates have 58 points from 25 matches, while Sundowns have 56 points from 23 games.¹²

Pirates defeated AmaZulu 3-0 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday after dropping points in recent draws against Siwelele FC (1-1) and Richards Bay (2-2).¹² Sundowns were not in domestic action but advanced to the CAF Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Esperance Tunis in the second leg of their semifinal, securing a 2-0 aggregate win.³

Pirates face Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday, a match rescheduled from Saturday due to venue unavailability.⁴ Chiefs, who are out of the title race, have been unbeaten in six league matches and won five in a row before drawing 0-0 with Polokwane City.³ Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi said control would be important in the derby.⁴ "Control is important for us – if you play such matches, you have to focus on the details, being incisive in our attack, control the transitions, and we have to be highly clinical in front of goals," Ncikazi said.⁴

Chiefs will also face Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on 6 May, giving them the opportunity to influence the title race against both challengers.³ Sundowns are scheduled to play Stellenbosch FC before Pirates' derby.⁴

Pirates winger Oswin Appollis, who has scored 11 goals with eight assists this season, said winning the league was the priority over individual awards.⁶⁸ "The player of the season award is not in mind at the moment. My job is to score goals for the team, help the team win and achieve goals. Our goal is to win the league, that's all," Appollis said.⁶⁸

Neither Pirates nor Sundowns will compete in the Nedbank Cup final on 2 May, where Durban City will face TS Galaxy.¹² Sundowns will play the Champions League final against AS FAR of Morocco on 15 and 24 May after the domestic season concludes on 23 May.¹²