Orlando Pirates F.C.

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use South African English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club

Orlando Pirates Football Club, referred to as simply Pirates, is a South African professional football club based in Orlando, Soweto that plays in the top-tier system of Football in South Africa known as Betway Premiership. The team plays its home matches at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando, Soweto.<ref name="building">Template:Cite web</ref> Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season back to back, having won the domestic league ABSA Premiership, the domestic cup Nedbank Cup and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2010–11 season and domestic league ABSA Premiership, the League Cup Telkom Knockout and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2011–12 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They are one of only two South African teams with Mamelodi Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League, which they won in 1995 and were runners up of 2013 CAF Champions League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They are also the runners-up of the 2015 and 2021–2022 CAF Confederation Cup.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In total Orlando Pirates have appeared in four Confederation of African Football finals, that is more continental finals than any other Premier Soccer League side.

The club has won nine league titles and 89 trophies in total including 10 South African cup trophies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>In 2025 they became the first team to win four consecutive MTN 8 finals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa's oldest football clubs having been established in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.<ref name=building /><ref name=FIFA>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early years

The founders of Orlando Pirates included the offspring of migrant workers who moved from rural areas to work in the gold mines of Gauteng. Boys in Orlando came together at every available opportunity in open spaces and in informal groupings to play football. The original club was formed in 1934 by a group of teenagers at the Orlando Boys Club.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Andries Mkhwanazi, popularly known as "Pele Pele", was a boxing instructor at the Orlando Boys Club when he encouraged formation of a football club in 1937 and a year later those teenagers were competing among the minors of the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association barefoot and without a team kit.<ref name=":0" />

In 1940, Bethuel Mokgosinyane, the first president, bought the first team kit with his own funds. Orlando Boys participated in Johannesburg Bantu Football Association's Saturday League, where they won the Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One in 1944.<ref name=building /> Andrew Bassie, a key member of the team, suggested the new name 'Orlando Pirates'. The team composed the camp's war cry 'Ezimnyama Ngenkani'.

Since 1909

Orlando Pirates supporters

Over the years, Orlando Pirates, also known as 'The Happy People', have accumulated a record of successes having won the National Professional Soccer League title in 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976, the National Soccer League title in 1994, and the Premiership title four times, in 2001, 2003, 2011 and 2012. Their first-place finish in the 2010–11 domestic league campaign generated much excitement among the club's vast fan base.

In 2011, Orlando Pirates enjoyed tremendous success by winning the 2010–11 Premiership, The Nedbank Cup, The MTN 8 Cup and The Telkom Knockout. This year was dubbed as "The Happy Year."Template:Citation needed

Many other cup triumphs in domestic football have also been recorded, including Vodacom Challenge title victories in the inaugural 1999 tournament and 2005. But the African continent and other areas of the football world took notice of Orlando Pirates Football Club when they won the African Champions Cup (now known as the Champions League) in 1995 and the African Super Cup a year later. Along with Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe and AS Vita, the Orlando Pirates are the only Southern Hemisphere club to have won the African Champions League. This achievement resulted in the club being honoured by the first State President of the new democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela; another first for a South African sporting team.

Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung and his Jomo Cosmos counterpart Jomo Sono were popular players of the highest calibre for the Buccaneers before starting their own clubs.

In 2005, the team, along with Interza Lesego and Ellis Park Stadium Ltd, announced its acquisition of a 51% share in Ellis Park Stadium, making it the first majority black-owned stadium in South Africa.<ref name=Ellis>Template:Cite web</ref> It was in the same year that Orlando Pirates achieved Superbrand status. Superbrands is an international company that identifies and rewards the leading brands around the world; Orlando Pirates are the only South African sports team next to the Springboks and Proteas to be given this status.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Ghost

Template:Section citations needed Orlando Pirates’ supporters are known as “the Ghost” and produce an intimidating atmosphere on match days at Orlando Stadium.

Fans boast about their team being the first club from Southern Africa to have won the Caf Champions League title, having achieved this in 1995.

The Soweto derby

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a fiercely contested derby. The first match was on 24 January 1971.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours

Type Competition Titles Seasons
Domestic South African Premier Division/Premiership 9 Winners (9): 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1994, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12
Runners-up (8): 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24
FA Cup/Nedbank Cup 10 Winners (10): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23, 2023–24
Runners-up (10): 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1998, 2006, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2024–25
League Cup/Carling Knockout 1 Winners (1): 2011
Runners-up (8): 1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018
Top 8 Cup/MTN 8 14 Winners (14): 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Runners-up (3): 2007, 2013, 2014
African CAF Champions League 1 Winners (1): 1995
Runners-up (1): 2013
CAF Confederation Cup 0
Runners-up (2): 2015, 2021-22
CAF Super Cup 1 Winners (1): 1996
Afro-Asian Club Championship 0
Runners-up (1): 1996

Amateur Era (1937-1960)

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division Two

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division One

  • Champions (3): 1955, 1956 & 1959<ref name="maguire"/>

Johannesburg African Football Association (JAFA) Summer League

  • Champions (2): 1950, 1952<ref name="maguire"/>

Transvaal Challenge Cup

  • Champions (3): 1952, 1955, 1959<ref name="maguire"/>

SA Robertson Cup

  • Champions (4): 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953<ref name="maguire"/>

Robor Shield Cup

  • Champions (1): 1959<ref name="maguire"/>

Cup Competitions (unofficial)

Castle Challenge

  • Champions (1): 1992

Sales House Cup

  • Champions (5): 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983

Carling Black Label Cup

  • Champions (5) record: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019

Vodacom Challenge

  • Champions (2): 1999, 2005

Telkom Charity Cup

  • Champions (7) 1993,1995,1997,1999,2001,2008,2009

PSL Reserve League

  • Champions (1): 2007

Performance in CAF Competitions

NB: South African football clubs started participating in CAF Competition's in 1993, after 16 years of being banned from FIFA due to the apartheid system. The ban extended from 1976 to 1992.

The club appeared in the African Cup of Champions Clubs twice (1995, 1996) and have appeared in the CAF Champions League ten times from 1997 to date. The club has been knocked out 4 times in the preliminary round out of the last 6 appearances.

Year Best finish
1995 Champions
1996 Quarter-Final
1997 Group Stage
2002 Second Round
2004 Second Round
2006 Semi-Final
2010 Preliminary Round
2012 Preliminary Round
2013 Finalist
2018–19 Group Stage
2019-20 Preliminary Round
2023-24 Preliminary Round
2024-25 Semi-Final


Year Best Finish
CAF Confederation Cup African Cup winners' Cup
1999 - Semi-Final
2004 Play-offs -
2015 Finalist -
2020–21 Quarter -Finalist -
2021–22 Finalist -
Year Best finish
1996 Champions

Note

  • Orlando Pirates did not make an appearance in the CAF Cup. They qualified for the 2001 CAF Cup but withdrew from the competition. As the cup was intended for league runners-up their place in the tournament was then extended to Kaizer Chiefs who had finished third, but they declined as they had already qualified for the more prestigious 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup. Pirates' place in the tournament was then extended to and taken by Ajax Cape Town.Template:Citation needed
  • Contrary to popular belief, Orlando Pirates had already incorporated the star above their badge before the second leg of the 1995 CAF Champions Cup final against ASEC Mimosas. Photographic evidence from the match shows Pirates players wearing jerseys with the star, indicating that the club anticipated their victory and added it before officially securing the title. This challenges the common misconception that the star was only introduced after their triumph<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Overall matches

Competition P W D L GF GA
CAF Champions League 80 36 24 20 122 69
CAF Confederation Cup 21 15 2 4 38 22
African Cup Winners' Cup 8 6 1 1 24 11
CAF Super Cup 1 1 0 0 1 0
Total 110 58 27 25 180 102

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Crest and colours

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Ref
1993-97 Umbro Alpha Cement <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1997-present Adidas Vodacom

Club ranking

As of 2 September 2023, Orlando Pirates are ranked 16th in the 2023-24 CAF 5-year ranking.

Rank Club 2018–19
Template:Small		 2019–20
Template:Small		 2020–21
Template:Small		 2021–22
Template:Small		 2022–23
Template:Small		 Total
15 Template:Flagicon USM Alger 0 1 0 0 5 {{#expr: 0*1 + 1*2 + 0*3 + 0*4 + 5*5}}
16 Template:Flagicon Orlando Pirates 2 0 2 4 0 {{#expr: 2*1 + 0*2 + 2*3 + 4*4 + 0*5}}
17 Template:Flagicon Al-Hilal 2 2 1 1 2 {{#expr: 2*1 + 2*2 + 1*3 + 1*4 + 2*5}}

Notable former coaches

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Club records

Orlando Pirates youth team players.
  • Most appearances: Happy Jele 401<ref name="Superbrands">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most goals: Benedict Vilakazi 52
  • Most capped player: Teko Modise 58 (South Africa)
  • Most appearances in a season: Senzo Meyiwa 51 (2013–2014), Oupa Manyisa 51 (2013–14) and Willy Okpara 51 (1994–1995)
  • Most goals in a season: Dennis Lota 23 (1999–00)
  • Record win: 9–1 v Olympics FC (Bob Save Super Bowl, 7 March 1999)
  • Record loss: 0–6 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (League, 11 February 2017) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
  • Most games unbeaten: 17 (1975, 2005)
  • Most goals scored in a season: 61 (1989)
  • Most goals conceded in a season: 60 (1986)
  • Most wins in a season: 19 (1990)
  • Fewest wins in a season: 5 (1985)
  • Most defeats in a season: 15 (1985)
  • Fewest defeats in a season: 3 (1994)

Premiership record

Key
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
In progress
Season Position Record
Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
1996–97 3rd 34 18 10 6 43 27 16 57
1997–98 3rd 34 15 12 7 52 33 19 57
1998–99 3rd 34 17 9 8 55 28 27 60
1999–2000 2nd 34 18 10 6 72 36 36 64
2000–01 Champions 34 16 13 5 60 34 26 61
2001–02 3rd 34 15 12 7 43 31 12 57
2002–03 Champions 30 18 7 5 41 16 25 61
2003–04 5th 30 13 11 6 45 30 15 50
2004–05 2nd 30 17 9 4 52 29 23 60
2005–06 2nd 30 14 12 4 39 24 15 54
2006–07 5th 30 12 10 8 36 30 6 46
2007–08 8th 30 12 6 12 38 30 8 42
2008–09 2nd 30 15 10 5 37 20 17 55
2009–10 5th 30 10 14 6 26 18 8 44
2010–11 Champions 30 17 9 4 41 23 18 60
2011–12 Champions 30 17 7 6 39 26 13 58
2012–13 3rd 30 14 10 6 39 23 16 52
2013–14 4th 30 13 7 10 30 22 8 46
2014–15 4th 30 13 11 6 46 29 17 50
2015–16 7th 30 11 8 11 38 30 8 41
2016–17 11th 30 6 15 9 29 40 -11 33
2017–18 2nd 30 15 10 5 41 26 15 55
2018–19 2nd 30 15 12 3 44 24 20 57
2019–20 3rd 30 14 10 6 40 29 11 52
2020–21 3rd 30 13 11 6 33 22 11 50
2021–22 6th 30 10 14 6 34 28 6 44
2022–23 2nd 30 16 6 8 40 21 19 54
2023–24 2nd 30 14 8 8 44 26 18 50
2024–25 2nd 28 19 4 5 43 20 23 61

Coaching staff

Template:Update section <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Position Name
Chairman/managing director Template:Flagicon Irvin Khoza
Head coach Template:Flagicon Abdeslam Ouaddou
Assistant coach Template:Flagicon Mandla Ncikazi
Assistant coach Template:Flagicon Rayaan Jacobs
Goalkeeper coach Template:Flagicon Tyron Damons
Head of performance Template:Flagicon Ruan Rust
Strength and conditioning coach Template:Flagicon Helmi Gueldich
Biokineticist Template:Flagicon Lauren tate
Biokineticist Template:Flagicon Dylan Cox
Head of sports Sciences Template:Flagicon Lee Miles
Video analyst Template:Flagicon Ncwadi ndabezitha
Assistant video analyst Template:Flagicon Taariq yaghya
Team Doctor Template:Flagicon DR Ezekiel matebula
Team Doctor Template:Flagicon DR Lazarus maphakela
Physiotherapist Template:Flagicon Kutlwano molefe
Physiotherapist Template:Flagicon John William
Physiotherapist Template:Flagicon Bongani mmitsi
Kit manager Template:Flagicon Lucky matshaba
Kit manager Template:Flagicon Goodness mhlongo
Team security Template:Flagicon Nhlanhla Jwara
Technical Template:Flagicon Junior Bhengu
Orlando Pirates starting line-up in 2009.
Back row L–R Benson Mhlongo ©, Lucky Lekgwathi, Moeneeb Josephs, Lucas Thwala, Rooi Mahamutsa and Happy Jele;
Front row L–R Andile Jali, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Dikgang Mabalane, Katlego Mashego and Teko Modise.

Players

First team squad

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Players out on loan

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Jersey number retirement

The club has retired four numbers.

Jersey number 10 was retired to honour Jomo Sono, regarded as one of the best players from South Africa.As of 2024, the jersey has been worn in CAF Champions League by Patrick Maswanganyi

Jersey number 13 was retired to honour Clifford Moleko in 1998.

Jersey number 22 was retired to honour Lesley Manyathela after his death in a car accident in 2003. Manyathela finished the 2003 season as top scorer, and the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot was named after him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jersey number 1 was retired to honour goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa after his assassination in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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Template:Orlando Pirates Squad Template:Premier Soccer League teamlist Template:CAF Champions League winners Template:CAF Super Cup winners Template:Greater Johannesburg

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