Not only did the two sides do battle on the last day of the Absa Premiership season, playing to a 1-1 draw, they then met just a few days later in the first round of the Telkom Knockout, with Pirates winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from young striker Ndumiso Mabena.
Phunya Sele Sele must be sick of the sight of the Buccaneers – this being their third successive game against the Soweto side – yet they can take heart from the fact that they defeated Pirates in this competition last season, a 2-1 win in the Last 16 round.
Both sides will have to make do without players away on Bafana Bafana duty in Germany. Celtic will be without influential defensive midfielder Thabo Nthethe, though they will be pleased at the return of on-loan Pirates winger Tlou Segolela, who was part of the national team’s camp in South America but didn’t make the cut for the trip to Europe.
Pirates welcome back Thulasizwe Mbuyane, who was also axed from the training squad, and his return somewhat softens the blow of losing Katlego Mashego, who was surprisingly called up for the camp in Germany despite his apparent lack of goal scoring form for the Buccaneers.
The Soweto side will still be missing six key players. Aside from Mashego, Moeneeb Josephs, Andile Jali, Teko Modise, Gert Schalkwyk and Lucas Thwala are all unavailable due to their Bafana Bafana commitments.
Add in the losses of Denis Masina and Isaac Chansa, who are both injured, as well as Rooi Mahamutsa’s suspension and it is clear that coach Ruud Krol has something of a selection dilemma on his hands and will be forced to shuffle his pack against Celtic.
The visitors themselves will be without midfielder Thembile Kanono, who picked up his third yellow card in the cup game against Pirates last month and will sit out due to suspension.
The teams have met in 54 league and cup games since 1985, with Pirates winning 29 games to Celtic’s 10 and outscoring the Bloemfontein side 82 goals to 48. The duo have faced each other no less than ten times in cup competitions, with the Buccaneers claiming four wins to Phunya Sele Sele’s two.
However, the last two times the sides have faced off in this competition it has been Celtic who have gone on to next round. In the 2006/07 season the Bloemfontein side defeated Pirates 3-2 on penalties after their second round game had ended 2-2.
And last season goals from Patrick Malokase and Norman Smith saw them claim a 2-1 win over the Buccaneers, also in the second round of the competition.
