Orlando Pirates F.C.
Facts
- Name: Orlando Pirates
- Founded: 1937
- AKA: Pirates
Nicknames: Amabhakabhaka, Bucs, Buccaneers, Ezimnyama Ngenkani, The Happy People, The Sea Robbers
Home ground: Orlando Stadium
Owner/Chairman: Irvin Khoza
History
1934
The Orlando Boys club offers social soccer to the children of migrant mineworkers in Orlando East
1937
Andries ‘Pele Pele’ Mkhwanazi convinces the players to form a club and, within a year, they are competing and winning local matches and friendlies.
1939
The plsyers leave Orlando Boys Club and begin their own club. They are called ‘amapirate’ and their legend begins.
1940s
Bethuel Mokgosinyana, a social worker, gives them their first kit and builds the beginnings of their clubhouse. Team member Andrew Bassie suggests the name ‘Orlando Pirates’ and the legendary war cry “Ezimnyama Ngenkani” is compose by the team.
1950s
A hat-trick of Robertson Cup titles (1950, 1951, 1952)
1970-1971
The first Soweto Derby is played between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. The first game a 2-2 draw after extra time and Chiefs take the replay with a 2-1 win.
1971-1972
National Professional Soccer League formed
National Professional Soccer League Champions
1972 – 1973
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) begun
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1973 – 1974
National Professional Soccer League Champions
Life Challenge Cup (now known as the Nedbank Cup) winners
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1974 – 1975
Life Challenge Cup (now known as the Nedbank Cup) winners
1975 – 1976
Orlando Pirates become the only team ever to win what is now known as the Nedbank Cup three years in a row
National Professional Soccer League Champions
Life Challenge Cup (now known as the Nedbank Cup) winners
1976 - 1977
National Professional Soccer League Champions
Benson & Hedges Trophy (now known as Nedbank Cup) runners-up
1977 – 1978
Benson & Hedges Trophy (now known as Nedbank Cup) runners-up
1978 – 1979
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1980 – 1981
Mainstay Cup (now known as Nedbank Cup) winners
1981 – 1982
Mainstay Cup (now known as Nedbank Cup) runners-up
1983 – 1984
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1984 – 1985
Mainstay Cup (now known as Nedbank Cup) runners-up
1988 – 1989
Bob Save Superbowl (now known as the Nedbank Cup) winners
1989 – 1990
National Soccer League runners-up
1990 – 1991
John Player Special Knockout Cup (now known as the Telkom Knockout Cup) runners-up
1993 – 1994
Orlando Pirates lose a friendly to Italian giants AC Milan by a single goal (3-2)
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1994 – 1995
National Soccer League Champions
1995 – 1996
CAF Champions League winners
Coca-Cola Cup (now known as the Telkom Knockout Cup) runners-up
1996 – 1997
CAF Super Cup winners
Bob Save Superbowl (now known as the Nedbank Cup) winners
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
1998 – 1999
Bob Save Superbowl (now known as the Nedbank Cup) runners-up
1999 – 2000
Premier Soccer League runners-up
2000 – 2001
Premier Soccer League winners
BP Top 8 Cup (now known as MTN 8) winners
Rothmans Cup (now known as the Telkom Knockout Cup) runners-up
2001 – 2002
The Ellis Park Disaster sees 43 supporters crushed to death during the Soweto Derby
2002 – 2003
Premier Soccer League winners
2004 – 2005
Premier Soccer League runners-up
2005 – 2006
Premier Soccer League runners-up
2006 – 2007
ABSA Cup (now known as the Nedbank Cup) runners-up
2008 – 2009
Premier Soccer League runners-up
Telkom Knockout Cup runners-up
2010 - 2011
Pirates achieve the Famous Treble by lifting all three domestic trophies
Premier Soccer League winners
MTN 8 winners
Nedbank Cup winners
2011 - 2012
Premier Soccer League winners
Telkom Knockout Cup winners
MTN 8 winners
2013 – 2014
Nedbank Cup winners
CAF Champions League runners-up
Telkom Knockout Cup runners-up
2015 – 2016
CAF Confederations Cup runners-up
Nedbank Cup runners-up
2016 - 2017
Nedbank Cup runners-up
2017 – 2018
Premier Soccer League runners-up
2018 – 2019
Premier Soccer League runners-up
Telkom Knockout Cup runners-up
2020 – 2021
MTN 8 winners
Live Soccer Score Did You Know?
The most capped Orlando Sundowns player is Teko Modise with 58
William Okpara has made 375 appearances for the Buccaneers
Benedict Vilakazi holds the record for most goals scored for Pirates with 52.
Pirates scored a record 9-1 victory over Olympics FC in a 1999 Bob Save Superbowl match
