24/05/2026
Orlando Pirates are finally Betway Premiership champions again and the ghosts of 14 painful years have officially been buried.
The Buccaneers completed a dream season on Saturday by clinching the league title to add to the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies already secured earlier in the campaign.
It marks a sensational treble-winning season for the Soweto giants and cements their return to the summit of South African football.
Pirates got the job done against a stubborn Orbit College side, although the champions-elect were forced to work hard for every breakthrough.
Despite dominating possession and creating wave after wave of attacks, Abdeslam Ouaddou's men simply could not find the finishing touch in front of goal.
But luck finally smiled on the Buccaneers just before halftime.
Orbit goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo endured a nightmare moment when he accidentally punched the ball into his own net while trying to deal with a dangerous Pirates corner. The unfortunate own goal handed Pirates the breakthrough and sent the travelling supporters into wild celebrations.
The pressure continued after the break, and Orbit's resistance completely collapsed when defender Ndumiso Ngiba also turned the ball into his own net under pressure from the relentless Buccaneers attack.
Those two own goals were enough to crown Pirates champions for the first time since 2012.
From cup kings to league rulers, Pirates have now completed one of the greatest seasons in the club's modern history.
After years of heartbreak, false dawns and frustration, the black-and-white half of Soweto can finally celebrate again, Orlando Pirates are champions of South Africa.