Orlando Pirates F.C.

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa's oldest football clubs having been established in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=44235/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217065217/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=44235/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2010 |title=Orlando Pirates: The Pirates who ruled Africa |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |access-date=15 May 2010}}

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.{{Cite web |title=A Guide To The History of Orlando Pirates Football Club South Africa |url=https://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/club/history |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=www.orlandopiratesfc.com |date=October 2020 |archive-date=26 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626135903/https://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/club/history |url-status=live }} 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.

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

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File:Orlando pirates fans 6.jpg

File:Lutz-Pfannenstiel-08-2019.jpg played several games for the Orlando Pirates in the 1990s]]

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|date=July 2023}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/default.asp?cId=14428 |title=Ellis Park Stadium |work=OrlandoPiratesFC.com |publisher=Orlando Pirates FC |access-date=15 May 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303094132/http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/default.asp?cId=14428 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2007-11-07-pirates-still-top-brand/|title=Pirates still top brand}}

{{section citations needed|date=April 2025}}

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

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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.

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The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a fiercely contested derby. The first match was on 24 January 1971.{{cite web |title=South Africa's derby goes global |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/news/newsid=108256/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112182416/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/news/newsid=108256/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 November 2012 |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=17 September 2011}}

Amateur Era (1937-1960)

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division Two

• Champions (1): 1939The Peoples' Club

A social and institutional history

of Orlando Pirates Football Club,

1937 - 1973 Richard Maguire dissertation, https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/1710a423-8286-4fd5-9f03-622638b6cc65/content

Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division One

• Champions (3): 1955, 1956 & 1959{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/|title=Orlando Pirates Football Club | Official Website | Home of The Legends|date=10 January 2024|website=www.orlandopiratesfc.com}}

Johannesburg African Football Association (JAFA) Summer League

• Champions (2): 1950, 1952

1937 - 1973 Richard Maguire dissertation, https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/1710a423-8286-4fd5-9f03-622638b6cc65/content

Transvaal Challenge Cup

• Champions (3): 1952, 1955, 1959A social and institutional history

of Orlando Pirates Football Club,

1937 - 1973 Richard Maguire dissertation, https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/1710a423-8286-4fd5-9f03-622638b6cc65/content

SA Robertson Cup

• Champions (4): 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953

Robor Shield Cup

• Champions (1): 1959

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, 2013, 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.

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

• CAF Super Cup: 1 appearance

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|date=July 2021}}
• 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{{Cite web |last=KickOff |title=The star on Orlando Pirates badge explained |url=https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/sanews/premiership/orlando-pirates/the-star-on-orlando-pirates-badge-explained-20131023#google_vignette |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Kickoff |language=en-US}}

{{updated|27 September 2021}}

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

{{div col|colwidth=28em|small=yes}}

• {{flagicon | South Africa}} Walter Da Silva (1988)
• {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Shepherd Murape (1994)
• {{flagicon|Scotland}} Joe Frickleton (1995)
• {{flagicon|Russia}} Viktor Bondarenko (1995–1996)
• {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Shaibu Amodu (1996–1997)
• {{flagicon|Romania}} Ted Dumitru (1999–2000)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Gordon Igesund (2000–2001)
• {{flagicon|France}} Jean-Yves Kerjean (2001–2002)
• {{flagicon|Serbia}} Kosta Papić (2004–2005)
• {{flagicon|Serbia}} Milutin Sredojević (2006–2007)
• {{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} Bibey Mutombo (2007)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Owen Da Gama (2007–2008)
• {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Ruud Krol (2008–2011)
• {{flagicon|Brazil}} Júlio César Leal (2011–2012)
• {{flagicon|Peru}} Augusto Palacios (interim; 2012)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Roger De Sa (2012–2014)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Eric Tinkler (interim; 2014)
• {{flagicon|Serbia}} Vladimir Vermezović (2014–2015)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Eric Tinkler (2015–2016)
• {{flagicon|Turkey}} Muhsin Ertuğral (2016)
• {{flagicon|Peru}} Augusto Palacios (interim; 2016–2017)
• {{flagicon|Sweden}} Kjell Jonevret (2017)
• {{Flagicon|Serbia}} Milutin Sredojević (2017–2019)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Rulani Mokwena (interim; 2019)
• {{flagicon|Germany}} Josef Zinnbauer (2019–2021)
• {{flagicon|South Africa}} Fadlu Davids & Mandla Ncikazi (interims; 2021–2022)
• {{flagicon|Spain}} José Riveiro (2022-)

{{div col end}}

File:Orlando pirates youth players.JPG

• Most appearances: Happy Jele 401{{cite web|url = http://www.superbrands.com/za/pdfs/ORLANDO.pdf|title = Orlando Pirates Football Club|work = Superbrands.com/za|publisher = Superbrands|access-date = 15 May 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164217/http://www.superbrands.com/za/pdfs/ORLANDO.pdf|archive-date = 16 July 2011}}
• 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)

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}

File:Orlando pirates team photo.jpg ©, 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.]]

{{updated|29 August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/orlando-pirates-confirm-2021-22-squad-numbers/704098|title=Orlando Pirates confirm 2021/22 squad numbers|date=20 August 2021|website=Kick Off|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822101412/https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/orlando-pirates-confirm-2021-22-squad-numbers/704098|url-status=live}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player | no= 2 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Thabiso Monyane}}

{{Fs player | no= 3 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Deano Van Rooyen}}

{{Fs player | no= 4 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Miguel Timm}}

{{Fs player | no= 5 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Nkosinathi Sibisi}}

{{Fs player | no= 6 | pos=DF | nat=NGR | name=Olisa Ndah}}

{{Fs player | no= 7 | pos=MF | nat=NAM | name=Deon Hotto}}

{{Fs player | no= 8 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Makhehleni Makhaula}}

{{Fs player | no= 9 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Zakhele Lepasa}}

{{Fs player | no=11 | pos=FW | nat=ANG | name=Gilberto}}

{{Fs player | no=12 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Katlego Otladisa}}

{{Fs player | no=14 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Monnapule Saleng}}

{{Fs player | no=15 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo}}

{{Fs player | no=16 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Thalente Mbatha}}

{{Fs player | no=17 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Evidence Makgopa}}

{{Fs player | no=18 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Kabelo Dlamini}}

{{Fs player | no=19 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Tshegofatso Mabasa}}

{{Fs player | no=20 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Goodman Mosele}}

{{Fs player | no=21 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Azola Tshobeni}}

{{Fs player | no=23 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Innocent Maela (captain)}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player | no=24 | pos=GK | nat=RSA | name=Sipho Chaine}}

{{Fs player | no=25 | pos=MF | nat=DRC | name=Karim Kimvuidi}}

{{Fs player | no=26 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Bandile Shandu}}

{{Fs player | no=27 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Tapelo Xoki (vice-captain)}}

{{Fs Player | no=28 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Patrick Maswanganyi}}

{{Fs Player | no=29 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Paseka Mako}}

{{Fs player | no=30 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Siphelo Baloni}}

{{Fs player | no=31 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Selaelo Rasebotja}}

{{Fs player | no=32 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Thuso Moleleki}}

{{Fs player | no=35 | pos=GK | nat=RSA | name=Melusi Buthelezi}}

{{Fs player | no=33 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Mohau Nkota}}

{{Fs player | no=36 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Thabiso Sesane}}

{{Fs player | no=37 | pos=DF | nat=RSA | name=Thabiso Lebitso}}

{{Fs player | no=38 | pos=MF | nat=RSA | name=Relebohile Mofokeng}}

{{Fs player | no=40 | pos=GK | nat=RSA | name=Siyabonga Dladla}}

{{Fs player | no=41 | pos=GK | nat=RSA | name=Ayanda Zulu}}

{{Fs player | no=42 | pos=FW | nat=RSA | name=Boitumelo Radiopane}}

{{Fs end}}

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.

Jersey number 13 was retired to honour Sasha 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.{{Cite web |title=He would have been 30 on Saturday |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/he-would-have-been-30-on-saturday-1132660 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}

Jersey number 1 was retired to honour goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa after his assassination in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Bosoga |first=Thato |title=The tale of retired jerseys at Chiefs, Pirates & Downs |url=https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/sanews/premiership/the-tale-of-retired-jerseys-at-chiefs-pirates-downs-20240415 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Kickoff |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Diski365 |date=2017-03-17 |title=Orlando Pirates Retired Numbers! |url=https://diski365.co.za/orlando-pirates-retired-numbers/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Diski 365 |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Orlando Pirates FC}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081207061608/http://www.psl.co.za/team.asp?team=pirates PSL Club Info] (archived 7 December 2008)
• [https://www.flashscore.co.za/team/orlando-pirates/p4SF9EMI/results/ Orlando Pirates results]

{{Orlando Pirates Squad}}

{{Premier Soccer League teamlist}}

{{CAF Champions League winners}}

{{CAF Super Cup winners}}

{{Greater Johannesburg|sports}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 1937

Category:Soweto

Category:Premier Soccer League clubs

Category:Soccer clubs in Johannesburg

Category:1937 establishments in South Africa

Category:CAF Champions League–winning clubs

Category:CAF Super Cup winning clubs