Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates have announced their starting line-up for their pre-season match against Cordoba FC at the Marbella Football Centre on Wednesday night.
This is the first of five friendly matches for the Buccaneers on their European pre-season tour. This game will be followed by the one against Cadiz CF on Mandela day.
Then they face Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia next Tuesday (21 July) followed by the match Las Palmas the next day (22 July) and finish their tour with a game against Saudi Pro league side Neom SC next Friday (24 July).
Today’s game against the Spanish second division side will be broadcast on Pirates’ YouTube channel as well as SuperSport 9.
The Buccaneers had a successful time out domestically after they had a European tour last year, winning four trophies, the MTN 8 Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup, the Carling Black Label Cup and the Betway Premiership title, which means they have also qualified for the CAF Champions League.
The league success was a first for Pirates in 14 years. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will always be looking to try new combinations especially upfront with the departures of Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa and also having promoted some young players from their development ranks, while Oswin Appollis has been given extended leave after the untimely passing of his close friend Jayden Adams.
Hew is how they line up:
Pirates X: Dladla, Chabatsane, Zulu, Van Rooyen, Ndaba, Selepe, Mariko, Maswanganyi, Padime, Lungu, Mbuthuma
Subs: Chaine, Xoki, Derbyshire, Rapoo, Sebelebele, Mthiyane, Masilela, Dansin, Moremi, Ngwato, Radiopane