Orlando Pirates have called on supporters to buy their tickets early for Saturday’s MTN8 quarter-final against Durban City, after crowd-control problems disrupted the club’s opening Betway Premiership fixture.
The match will be played at Orlando Amstel Arena, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00. It will mark the start of Orlando Pirates’ defence of the MTN8 trophy as they pursue a fifth successive Top 8 title and a joint-record 15th overall triumph in the competition.
General admission tickets cost R100 and are available exclusively through the OpenTickets platform.
Orlando Pirates have made clear that only digital tickets will be accepted for entry. No physical tickets will be sold during this season’s MTN8 campaign, and supporters will not be able to buy tickets at the stadium or from physical outlets.
Printed copies of digital tickets will also not be accepted at the turnstiles. The club has therefore advised fans to complete their purchases as soon as possible to avoid missing the quarter-final.
The fixture brings together two sides who won domestic silverware during the 2025/26 season. Orlando Pirates will be aiming to maintain their recent dominance of the MTN8, while Durban City will look to cause an upset and prevent the holders from moving closer to another title.
The ticketing announcement follows a troubled league opener for Orlando Pirates against Milford FC. The club apologised to supporters after major disruptions led to some fans being unable to enter the stadium.
During that match, the stadium gates were closed after the Venue Operations Centre (VOC) instructed officials to impose a lockdown because of concerns about public safety.
Orlando Pirates said criminal syndicates had been selling counterfeit tickets and helping spectators gain unlawful entry to the venue. The club said those activities forced officials to restrict access.
Although Orlando Pirates acknowledged the frustration of supporters who held valid tickets but were locked out, it said the decision to close the gates was outside the club’s control.
OpenTickets has since been appointed to process refunds for affected fans who bought valid tickets but were denied entry as a result of the lockdown.
The focus now returns to the field, with Orlando Pirates looking to begin their MTN8 campaign with a victory over Durban City. Success on Saturday would take the Buccaneers one step closer to a fifth consecutive title and further underline their status as the competition’s most successful club in recent years.
Supporters can purchase the R100 general admission tickets through OpenTickets only. The club has again stressed that tickets will not be available at Orlando Amstel Arena or through physical sales points.
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