Orlando Pirates F.C.

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Orlando Pirates

Full name	Orlando Pirates Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Sea Robbers The Bucs Happy People Buccaneers Ezimnyama Ngenkani (Black By Force) Ezikamagebhula Ezagebhula Umhlaba kamasipala Mabhakabhaka Yeses[citation needed]
Short name	Pirates
Founded	1937; 87 years ago (1937), as Orlando Boys Club
Ground	Orlando Stadium
Capacity	37,313[1]
Chairman	Irvin Khoza
Manager	José Riveiro
League	Betway Premiership
2023–24	2nd of 16
Website	www.orlandopiratesfc.com
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Orlando Pirates Football Club (often known as "The Buccaneers") 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.^[2]

The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando, Soweto.^[3] They were named "amapirate" which means 'Pirates' in IsiZulu after the band of teenagers that originally formed an amateur football club at Orlando Boys Club broke away and started congregating at the home of one of the people that worked at Orlando Boys Club.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.

They are also the runners-up of the 2015 and 2021–2022 CAF Confederation Cup.^[6]

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 88 trophies in total including 10 South African cup trophies.^[7]

In 2024 they became the first team to win three consecutive MTN 8 finals.^[8]

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa's oldest football clubs having been established in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.^[3][9]

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.^[4] 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.^[4]

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.^[3] Andrew Bassie, a key member of the team, suggested the new name 'Orlando Pirates'. The team composed the camp's war cry 'Ezimnyama Ngenkani'.

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 Premier Soccer League 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 Premier Soccer League, The Nedbank Cup, The MTN 8 Cup and The Telkom Knockout. This year was dubbed as "The Happy Year."^{[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.^[10] 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.^[11]

Orlando Pirates’ supporters are among the most demanding in Africa and the world; Pirates’ real supporters‚ or “the Ghost” ‚ as they are known are some of the most passionate football fans you will ever come across.

Known as the spiritual owners of the club they produce the most intimidating atmosphere on match days at Orlando Stadium.

Pirates' fans, who are also known as the Ghost, often boast about their team being the first club from Southern Africa to have won the Caf Champions League title having achieved this in 1995.

Not only is the original Mecca of South African football. Orlando Stadium is also home to local giants and 1995 CAF Champions League winners Orlando Pirates; It is by far the most intimidating of venues on match days.

Th club boasts an impressive record at home compared to other sides in the PSL.

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is fiercely contested derby. The first match was on 24 January 1971.^[12]

Amateur era (1937-1960)

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division Two

1939^[13]

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division One

1955, 1956 & 1959^[14]

Johannesburg African Football Association (JAFA) Summer League

1950, 1952^[15]

Transvaal Challenge Cup

1952, 1955, 1959^[16]

SA Robertson Cup

1950, 1951, 1952, 1953^[16]

Robor Shield Cup

1959^[16]

South African League titles (9):

Premiership

• Champions (4): 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 (record)

National Soccer League

• Champions (1): 1994
• National Professional Soccer League
  • Champions (4): 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976

Nedbank Cup

• Champions (10): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Runners-up: 2006, 2015–16, 2016–17

Telkom Knockout

• Champions (1): 2011
• Runners-up: 1987,1990,1995,2000,2008, 2010, 2018

MTN 8

• Champions (13): 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Runners-up: 2007, 2013, 2014

CAF Champions League

• Champions (1): 1995
• Runners-up (1): 2013

CAF Confederation Cup

• Runners-up (2): 2015, 2021-22

CAF Super Cup

• Champions (1): 1996

Afro-Asian Club Championship

• Runners-up (1): 1996

Castle Challenge

• Champions (1): 1992

Sales House Cup

• Champions (4): 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

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.

• African Cup of Champions Clubs / CAF Champions League: 11 appearances

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

• CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances
• African Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance

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	-

• CAF Super Cup: 1 appearance

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.^{[citation needed]}

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

As of 27 September 2021

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor	Ref
1993-97	Umbro	Alpha Cement	[17]
1997-2000	Adidas	Adidas
2000-	Adidas	Vodacom

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

Rank	Club	2018–19 (× 1)	2019–20 (× 2)	2020–21 (× 3)	2021–22 (× 4)	2022–23 (× 5)	Total
15	USM Alger	0	1	0	0	5	27
16	Orlando Pirates	2	0	2	4	0	24
17	Al-Hilal	2	2	1	1	2	23

• Most appearances: Happy Jele 401^[18]
• 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)

Key
	Champions
	Runners-up
	Third place
	In progress

Season	Position	Record
		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
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

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Position	Name
Chairman/managing director	Irvin Khoza
Head coach	José Riveiro
Assistant coach	Mandla Ncikazi

As of 29 August 2024^[19]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  RSA Thabiso Monyane 3 DF  RSA Deano Van Rooyen 4 MF  RSA Miguel Timm 5 DF  RSA Nkosinathi Sibisi 6 DF  NGA Olisa Ndah 7 MF  NAM Deon Hotto 8 MF  RSA Makhehleni Makhaula 9 FW  RSA Zakhele Lepasa 11 FW  ANG Gilberto 12 MF  RSA Katlego Otladisa 14 FW  RSA Monnapule Saleng 15 MF  RSA Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo 16 MF  RSA Thalente Mbatha 17 FW  RSA Evidence Makgopa 18 FW  RSA Kabelo Dlamini 19 FW  RSA Tshegofatso Mabasa 20 MF  RSA Goodman Mosele 21 MF  RSA Azola Tshobeni 23 DF  RSA Innocent Maela (captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player 24 GK  RSA Sipho Chaine 25 MF  COD Karim Kimvuidi 26 DF  RSA Bandile Shandu 27 DF  RSA Tapelo Xoki (vice-captain) 28 MF  RSA Patrick Maswanganyi 29 DF  RSA Paseka Mako 30 MF  RSA Siphelo Baloni 31 MF  RSA Selaelo Rasebotja 32 MF  RSA Thuso Moleleki 35 GK  RSA Melusi Buthelezi 33 MF  RSA Mohau Nkota 36 DF  RSA Thabiso Sesane 37 DF  RSA Thabiso Lebitso 38 MF  RSA Relebohile Mofokeng 39 DF  RSA Sandile Mthethwa 40 GK  RSA Siyabonga Dladla 41 GK  RSA Ayanda Zulu 42 FW  RSA Boitumelo Radiopane

Jersey number 10 was retired to honour Jomo Sono when the club needed him at the match in 1980

Jomo Sono is currently the owner and founder of Jomo Cosmos at which he takes care of coaching job.

Jersey number 1 was retired to honour Senzo Meyiwa due his death when he was murdered at home

He was number one goalkeeper in South Africa having a competitor Itumeleng Khune

• Official website
• Orlando Pirates F.C. on Twitter
• Orlando Pirates F.C. on Facebook
• PSL Club Info (archived 7 December 2008)
• Orlando Pirates results