Orlando Pirates

Early years

The founders of Orlando Pirates included 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. That original club was called the Orlando Boys Club.

In 1940, Buthuel Mokgosinyane, the first president, bought the first team kit with his own funds. Orlando Boys participated in Johannesburg Bantu Association's Saturday League, where they won the Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One in 1944.^[2] 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 1971

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 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."

Many other cup triumphs in domestic football have also been recorded, including Vodacom Challenge title victories in the inaugural 1999 tournament and in 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, 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.

Club chairman, Irvin Khoza, who also served on the 2010 World Cup Bid Committee, must be credited with the club's rise to fame over the past few years as the Orlando Pirates supporters – who are nicknamed "The Ghost" – have had much to cheer about.

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. Their playing history is deeply entrenched in the black and white colours of Orlando Pirates.

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.^[7]

The Soweto derby

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in world football. And in contrast to most of the other games played in the Premier Soccer League in South Africa, matches between the two archrivals attract a full house of supporters almost without fail.

Domestic competitions

• Premier Soccer League
  • Winners (4): 2000-01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12
• National Soccer League
  • Winners (1): 1994
• National Premier Soccer League
  • Winners (4): 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976
• Nedbank Cup
  • Winners (8): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2011, 2014
• Telkom Knockout
  • Winners (1): 2011
• MTN 8
  • Winners (9): 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2011
• Castle Challenge
  • Winners (1): 1992
• Sales House Cup
  • Winners (4): 1972, 1975, 1977, 1983

International competitions

• CAF Champions League
  • Winners (1): 1995
  • Runners-up (1): 2013
• CAF Super Cup
  • Winners (1) : 1996
• CAF Confederation Cup
  • Runners-up(1): 2015

Reserve and Friendly

• Carling Black Label Cup
  • Winners (4): 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
• PSL Reserve League
  • Winners (1): 2007
• Vodacom Challenge
  • Winners (2): 1999, 2005

Premier Soccer League record

• 2017/2018 – 2nd
• 2016/2017 – 11th
• 2015/2016 – 7th
• 2014/2015 – 4th
• 2013/2014 – 4th
• 2012/2013 – 3rd
• 2011/2012 – 1st
• 2010/2011 – 1st
• 2009/2010 – 5th
• 2008/2009 – 2nd
• 2007/2008 – 8th
• 2006/2007 – 5th
• 2005/2005 – 2nd
• 2004/2005 – 2nd
• 2003/2004 – 5th
• 2002/2003 – 1st
• 2001/2002 – 3rd
• 2000/2001 – 1st
• 1999/2000 – 2nd
• 1998/1999 – 3rd
• 1997/1998 – 3rd
• 1996/1997 – 3rd

OUT ON LOAN

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

No. Position Player - DF Tercious Malepe (at Chippa United F.C. Until 30 JUNE 2019) - DF Sandile Mthethwa (ON LOAN AT Thanda Royal Zulu F.C.) - DF Thembela Sikhakhane (ON LOAN AT AmaZulu F.C.) - MF Siphumelele Mbulu (ON LOAN AT Witbank Spurs F.C.) - MF Brian Hlongwa (ON LOAN AT Royal Eagles F.C.) - MF Yusuf Maart (ON LOAN AT Cape Umoya United F.C.) - FW Ayanda Nkosi (ON LOAN AT Jomo Cosmos F.C.) - FW Zakhele Lepasa (ON LOAN AT Stellenbosch F.C.)

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals.

• Marshall Munetsi
• Augustine Mulenga
• Justin Shonga
• Kudakwashe Mahachi
• Caio Marcelo

Retired numbers

• 1 – Senzo Meyiwa, Goalkeeper - Posthumous
• 10 – Jomo Sono, Midfielder
• 13 – Clifford Moleko, Midfielder – Posthumous^[9]
• 22 – Lesley Manyathela, Forward (2000–03) – Posthumous