Aubrey Modiba dissects why facing Orlando Pirates is different | OneFootball

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Modiba on the difference of facing Pirates

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Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba has explained why locking horns with Orlando Pirates is a different ball game compared to facing other teams in the Betway Premiership.

The two teams will square off in a blockbuster top-of-the-table affair at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, in a match that could set the tone for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Sundowns head into the match sitting at the summit of the table with 21 points from 10 league outings, while Pirates occupy position three, having accumulated 18 points with two games in hand.

With the high-stakes encounter looming, the Downs left-back says Pirates provide a unique challenge as they always push Masandawana to the limits for the championship, having finished as runners-up for the past three seasons.

“I think with Pirates if you can check the last few seasons, this is a team that has been pushing us towards the end, especially in the league. So, I think that gives us extra motivation, playing against them, even other teams as well. But with Pirates I think it's the banter in the national team as well,” said Modiba.

"We do have more or less the same number of players [in the national team]. So we are always talking about these games and we don't want to lose to them going to the national team because the banter is going to be something else as players.

"So, I think [it's because of] that but mostly because they have been doing well in the league, pushing us to the limits and obviously taking away three points from them helps us towards the end, to have an edge over them in clinching the league.

Interestingly, the two heavyweights have already met twice in the MTN8 semi-final this season, with both matches ending in a one-all draw but Pirates advanced to the final after securing a penalty shootout win en route to lifting the top eight competition in September.