Orlando Pirates’ involvement in the CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup has left the completion of their Betway Premiership fixtures hanging in doubt.
Pirates will be at home against Pyramids FC on Thursday in the first leg of the CAF Champions League, before travelling to Cairo for the second leg on April 24.
READ: Mshishi – On your marks, get set, ready…
Upon their return from Egypt, they will play Magesi FC on April 30, prior to switching focus to the Soweto Derby on May 3.
The following Saturday (May 10) is for the Nedbank Cup final with Kaizer Chiefs the opponents again at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Minus the Royal AM games, Bucs must still play six league games by then against TS Galaxy (May 17), AmaZulu FC (May 24), plus SuperSport United, Sekhukhune United, and two against Golden Arrows.
Those games will be dependent on what happens with the side in the Champions League.
Should they go through to the final, then the dates of May 23 and May 31 will be booked for the two legs of the continent’s premier club competition, which offers USD4 million (approx. R76 million) for the winners.
So, in the case of Pirates then being in the final, it then creates further complications for the league, whose plan was to end the league season on May 24.
The game against AmaZulu will be moved if Pirates get to the Champions League final.
This will then leave Jose Riveiro with five league matches to play before the end of May, which still don’t have confirmed dates next to them.
READ: CAF rules keep Downs at minimal risk for suspensions drama
What makes it delicate is that Pirates still have interest in determining the destiny of the league title and will be three points behind Sundowns if they win all their games in hand.
June 2-10 is a FIFA date, while Sundowns will then leave for the FIFA Club World Cup in USA to run from June 14 – July 13.
