Baroka v Orlando Pirates: Kick off, TV channel, live score, squad news & preview

Micho Sredojevic's men are strong favourites to win the TKO trophy, but they face a Baroka side that is yet to conceded a goal in this competition

Baroka will play host to Orlando Pirates in the 2018 Telkom Knockout Cup final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

This will be the first meeting between Baroka and Pirates in a Cup final - something which football fans expected to happen seven years ago in the Nedbank Cup.

What's encouraging is the fact that Baroka go into the encounter as clear underdogs despite knocking out both Sundowns and defending champions Bidvest Wits.

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The truth is that there's more pressure on Pirates to win this final than on Baoka, who have nothing to lose given their huge success already in the competition.

Game	Baroka v Orlando Pirates
Date	Saturday, December 08
Time	18:00 SA Time

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The match will be live on SS4 and SABC 1. You can also catch live updates on Goal.com .

Next Match

Premier Soccer League

ROY

ORP

Match preview

Live Match Centre	TV Channel
Goal.com	SS4 and SABC1

Squads & Team News

Xola Mlambo, Orlando Pirates, August 2018

Backpagepix

Sredojevic is expected to field his strongest possible starting line-up against Baroka as they aim to end their four-year trophy wait.

Xola Mlambo and Ben Motswari are two of Pirates players with a chance to lift the TKO for the second time in a row after winning the competition with Wits last year.

But all eyes will be Zambian duo of Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga as well as Thembinkosi Lorch to take the game to Baroka, especially with Luvuyo Memela out injured.

Also on the sidelines is Gladwin Shitolo, who hasn't featured for the Sea Robbers in over three months after some costly mistakes in defence.

Potential Pirates XI: Mpontshane, Jele, Munetsi, Mbekile, Maela, Mlambo, Motshwari, Lorch, Mulenga, Shonga, Kutumela.

Baroka have not reported any injuries or suspensions, meaning Wedson Nyirenda will have a full squad to choose his starting XI from.

Talent Chawapiwa is Baroka's star player, and all eyes will be on him to see how performs on the day.

Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze has contributed immensely to the team's success thus far, after keeping three cleansheets in as many matches in the TKO competition.

Potential Baroka XI: Chipezeze, Mabeba, Makume, Gebhardt, Mdantsane, Sodi, Mosele, Chawaphiwa, Semenya, Makgantai, Sibiya.

Match Preview

Backpagepix
This will be the first Cup final meeting between Baroka and Pirates.

Whoever wins it on the day will walk away with over R4 million in cash prize and a trophy.

Pirates have been unfortunate when it comes to the TKO - they have been to eight finals but in all those times, they only lifted the trophy once; in 2011 when they beat Bidvest Wits in Durban.

Both sides have had to work hard to be where they are today, with Baroka beating the likes of Sundowns and Wits on their way to the final.

Pirates had to grind results against both AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.