{"id":1196,"date":"2025-08-09T21:30:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T19:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swazidailynews.com\/?p=1196"},"modified":"2025-08-09T21:30:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T19:30:29","slug":"sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/","title":{"rendered":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune United\u2019s quest to register 50 points in the 2025\/26 Betway Premiership season is off to the perfect start after Babina Noko beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Buccaneers made one change to their line-up that defeated Polokwane City in the MTN8 last weekend, with Tshepo Mashiloane replacing Bandile Shandu at right back to make his debut for the club.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune made three changes to their side that beat TS Galaxy 3-2 a week ago, with Daniel Cardoso, Thabang Monare and Linda Mntambo coming into the starting line-up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both head coaches, Abdeslam Ouaddou and Eric Tinkler, were taking charge of their first Betway Premiership fixtures with their new clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">?? Abdeslam Ouaddou after the 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not the way we wanted to start the league.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/orlandopirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@orlandopirates<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iDiskiTimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@iDiskiTimes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qke7j5En9f\">pic.twitter.com\/qke7j5En9f<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lorenz K\u00f6hler (@Lorenz_KO) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Lorenz_KO\/status\/1954251709250756885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute as Bradley Grobler could not make contact with Tsepo Matsimbi\u2019s cross, and Vuyo Letlapa\u2019s follow-up effort from the edge of the area sped just wide of the left upright.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune were lucky not to go behind in the 11th minute, as Deon Hotto\u2019s cross was too far ahead of Boitumelo Radiopane <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Cardoso\u2019s attempt to clear the ball nearly resulted in an own goal as it hit the upright.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE: <a title=\"PSL DC makes ruling on Gallants, Mphambaniso matter\" href=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/archives\/836\">PSL DC makes ruling on Gallants, Mphambaniso matter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the 17th minute, Keletso Makgalwa ran into the box, feeding Grobler, who took a quick touch with his right foot before shooting with his left, sending the ball over the crossbar as Nkosinathi Sibisi moved across to close him down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sipho Mbule launched a powerful shot from well outside the box in the 26th minute, forcing goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner to punch the ball behind for a corner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Letlapa made a brilliant run through the middle of the field in the 38th minute, but his pass for Grobler missed its mark and rolled into the middle of the box unattended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the 39th minute, Patrick Maswanganyi charged towards the box, cutting inside of Cardoso to fire his shot off, but it was not powerful enough to trouble Leaner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Relebohile Mofokeng had the last chance of the first as he received the ball on the left side of the box, cutting inside to beat Matsimbi and shoot, but his shot could not find the target.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">SAVED BY POST&#8230;TWICE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hotto created another chance at the start of the second half as he played Radiopane in at the edge of the box <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">but<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> his first touch was too heavy, allowing Cardoso to get to the ball before the striker.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the 48th minute, Pirates struggled to clear Sekhukhune\u2019s free kick, with the ball eventually falling to Monare. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">His strike was denied by the woodwork and fell to Siphesihle Mkhize, who took a touch to set himself before placing his shot at the near post.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1197\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1197\" style=\"width: 973px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1197\" src=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"973\" height=\"548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-332x187.jpg 332w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-664x374.jpg 664w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-688x387.jpg 688w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200-1044x587.jpg 1044w, https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/daniel-cardoso-defends-250809g-1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 973px) 100vw, 973px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1197\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Patrick Maswanganyi of the Orlando Pirates and Daniel Cardoso of the Sekhukhune United during the Betway Premiership<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sipho Chaine could not get to the second effort in time <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the ball crossed the goalline, giving the visitors the lead. The Buccaneers nearly struck back immediately in the 50th minute.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Radiopane played a creative pass to Oswin Appolis, who attempted to chip the ball across the face of <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">goal<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to Maswanganyi, but Leaner got a hand in the way to send the pass off course.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE: <a title=\"Barcelona coach Flick banned for next Champions League match\" href=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/archives\/1150\">Barcelona coach Flick banned for next Champions League match<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune were saved by the post again in the 74th minute as Hotto\u2019s freekick found the open Mbekezeli Mbokazi, whose header bounced and ricocheted off the left upright.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sihle Nduli could not reach the rebound <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Yanela Mbuthuma\u2019s follow-up went wide of the goal. In the 81st minute, Maswanganyi took a shot from far out, which sailed dangerously close to the target, but went over the bar.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"et\">????-?????<\/p>\n<p>FT|| <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/orlandopirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@orlandopirates<\/a> 0 v 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SekhukhuneFc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SekhukhuneFc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>?? Midfielder | Sihle Nduli<\/p>\n<p>????<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OrlandoPirates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#OrlandoPirates<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OnceAlways?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#OnceAlways<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/T3sEt4hzm2\">pic.twitter.com\/T3sEt4hzm2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/orlandopirates\/status\/1954257508551307413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hotto was involved yet again in the 87th minute as he found Mbuthuma in the box, who could not keep his header down. Despite their late efforts, the Buccaneers <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">could not<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> find an equaliser.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ouaddou will look to get his first league win against his former side, Marumo Gallants, at the Dr Rantlai Petrus Stadium in Mangaung on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune will attempt to overcome TS Galaxy for the second time in two weeks at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Orlando Pirates 0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune United (0) 1<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0(Mkhize 48\u2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Orlando Pirates:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0S. Chaine, T. Mashiloane (T. Moremi 84\u2019), N. Sibisi, M. Mbokazi, D. Hotto, P. Maswanganyi (K. Dlamini 84\u2019), S. Nduli, S. Mbule (A. Mariko 58\u2019), O. Appolis (M. Sebelebele 67\u2019), B. Radiopane (Y. Mbuthuma 58\u2019), R. Mofokeng<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sekhukhune United:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0R. Leaner,<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">D<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Cardoso, M. Thokolo, V. Letlapa, T. Matsimbi, T. Monare (M. Timm 70\u2019), S. Mkhize, V. Mncube (B. Ndlovu 79<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">)\u2019<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, L. Mntambo (S. Malivha 79\u2019), B. Grobler (C. Ohizu 69\u2019), K. Makgalwa (M. Mampuru 64\u2019) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/supersport.com\/football\/betway-premiership\/news\/3250b29a-4229-47b4-99ef-82a5c523f866\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\">Supersport<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sekhukhune United\u2019s quest to register 50 points in the 2025\/26 Betway Premiership season is off to the perfect start after Babina Noko beat Orlando Pirates 1-0.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,42,43],"tags":[79,53,80,54],"class_list":["post-1196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-soccer","category-south-africa","category-sports","tag-betway-premiership","tag-soccer","tag-south-africa","tag-sports","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sekhukhune United\u2019s quest to register 50 points in the 2025\/26 Betway Premiership season is off to the perfect start after Babina Noko beat Orlando Pirates 1-0.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Eswatini Daily News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eswatini Daily News\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eswatini Daily News\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eswatini Daily News\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de\"},\"headline\":\"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":860,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Betway Premiership\",\"Soccer\",\"South Africa\",\"Sports\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Soccer\",\"South Africa\",\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"Orlando Pirates was stunt by Sekhukhune United in the opening match of the Betway Premiership\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/1196\\\/sports\\\/soccer\\\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/\",\"name\":\"Eswatini Daily News\",\"description\":\"EDN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de\",\"name\":\"Eswatini Daily News\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Eswatini Daily News\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\\\/edn\\\/author\\\/adekunleo\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News","og_description":"Sekhukhune United\u2019s quest to register 50 points in the 2025\/26 Betway Premiership season is off to the perfect start after Babina Noko beat Orlando Pirates 1-0.","og_url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/","og_site_name":"Eswatini Daily News","article_published_time":"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Eswatini Daily News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eswatini Daily News","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/"},"author":{"name":"Eswatini Daily News","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/#\/schema\/person\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de"},"headline":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high","datePublished":"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/"},"wordCount":860,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg","keywords":["Betway Premiership","Soccer","South Africa","Sports"],"articleSection":["Soccer","South Africa","Sports"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/","url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/","name":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high - Eswatini Daily News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-09T19:30:29+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/#\/schema\/person\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Orlando-Pirates-Sekhukhune-United-Betway-Premiership.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000,"caption":"Orlando Pirates was stunt by Sekhukhune United in the opening match of the Betway Premiership"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/1196\/sports\/soccer\/sekhukhune-stun-pirates-to-start-betway-premiership-season-on-a-high\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sekhukhune stun Pirates to start Betway Premiership season on a high"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/#website","url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/","name":"Eswatini Daily News","description":"EDN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/#\/schema\/person\/a2e7ad908f0e6606cc49214ec19776de","name":"Eswatini Daily News","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd20c640fc2b77fae5560d5aa1f54a994fbb6bda894b89c7624c9793dc7790d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Eswatini Daily News"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn"],"url":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/author\/adekunleo\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}