Orlando Pirates FC

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Orlando Pirates

Full name

Orlando Pirates Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Bucs, Sea Robbers, Happy People,
Amabhakabhaka, Ezimnyama Ngenkani
(The black ones), etc.

Founded

1937, as Orlando Boys Club

Ground

Ellis Park, Doornfontein,
Johannesburg

Capacity

59,611 (expansion to 70,000
in progress expected
completion for 2010 World Cup)

Chairman

Irvin Khoza

Manager

Bibey Mutombo

League

Castle Premiership

2005-06

Castle Premiership, 2nd





Home colours





Away colours

Orlando Pirates are a South African football (soccer) club, founded in 1937 in the Orlando section of Soweto, Johannesburg.

[edit] History

Orlando Pirates is South Africa’s oldest football club formed in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto and their performances over the years have served as an inspiration for young soccer players to strive to play the Beautiful Game at the highest level in the black and white colours of the ‘Buccaneers’.

Over the years, Orlando Pirates – also known as ‘The Happy People’ – have accumulated a record of success 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 twice, in 2001 and 2003. Their second-placed finish in the last two domestic league campaigns has generated much excitement among the club’s vast fan-base.

Many other cup triumphs in domestic soccer 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 soccer 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. Pirates were and still 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.

In 2005, Orlando Pirates achieved Superbrand status. Superbrands is an international company that identifies and rewards the leading brands around the world – Pirates is the only sports team next to the Springboks and Proteas to be given this status.

Club chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, who also served on the 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.

The team recently annonced it's acquisition of a 51% share in the Ellis Park Stadium in Johanesburg's city center.

[edit] 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 soccer. 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 Wednesday League where they won the title and gained promotion to higher divisions of the association. Andrew Bassie, a key member of the team, suggested the new name 'Orlando Pirates'. The team composed the camp's war cry 'Ezimnyama Ngenkani'.

[edit] The Soweto derby

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested matches in world soccer, perhaps only upstaged in competitiveness by the Rangers vs Celtic derby in Glasgow. And in contrast to most of the other games played in the Premier Soccer League in SA, matches between the two arch rivals attract a full house almost without fail.

[edit] Results (2003-2006)

2003/2004

PSL: Chiefs 1 Pirates 0
PSL: Pirates 1 Chiefs 0

2004/2005

PSL: Pirates 2 Chiefs 1
PSL: Chiefs 1 Pirates 1

2005/2006

PSL: Chiefs 2 Pirates 0
PSL: Pirates 0 Chiefs 1

[edit] Overall record

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
Chiefs	30	12	10	8	29	24
Pirates	30	8	10	12	24	29

[edit] Notable players

[edit] "Golden Days"

Eric Bhamuza Sono
Jomo Sono
Dan Twala
Kaizer Motaung
Bashin Mahlangu
Marks Maponyane
Shakes Mashaba
Andy Karacinski

[edit] 1990s

Mark Fish
Jerry Skhosana
John Moeti
William Okpara
Brendan Silent
Andries Sebola
Sibusiso Zuma
Helman Mkhalele
Thabo Mngomeni
Phumlani Mkhize
Gavin Lane
Basil Steenkamp
China Masondo
Phiri Tsotetsi

[edit] 2000s

[edit] Major honours (since 1971)

African Super Cup titles: 1
1996
African Champions Cup titles: 1
1995
PSL League titles: 2
2000/01, 2002/03
NSL League titles: 1
1994
NPSL League titles: 4
1971, 1973, 1975, 1976
Bob Save Super Bowl titles: 2
1988, 1996
Mainstay Cup titles: 1
1980
Life Challenge titles: 1
1973, 1974, 1975
Top Eight Cup titles: 7
1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000
Castle Challenge titles: 1
1992
Sales House Cup titles: 4
1972, 1975, 1977, 1983
Benson and Hedges titles: 2
1973, 1974
Charity Cup titles: 5
1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001
Vodacom Challenge titles: 2
1999, 2005

[edit] Club records

Most appearances - Williams Okpara 375
Most goals - Albert Mahlangu, Basil Steenkamp 51
Most capped Player - Thabo Mngomeni 36 (South Africa)
Most appearances in a season - Williams Okpara 51 (1995)
Most goals in a season - Denis Lota 23 (1999/00)
Record win - 9-1 v Olympics (Bob Save Super Bowl 7/3/99)
Record loss - 1-6 v Sundowns (BP Top 8 Cup 3/2/90)

[edit] Premier Soccer League record

2005/2006 - 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

[edit] 2005/2006 season

[edit] Season record

Castle Premiership - 2nd
ABSA Cup - runners-up
Coca-Cola Cup - semifinals
SAA Supa 8 - semifinals
Vodacom Challenge - winners
Telkom Charity Cup - not qualified

[edit] PSL top scorers

1. Lelo Mbele 7
2. Lebohang Mokoena 6
3. Isaac Chansa 5
4. Phumudzo Manenzhe 3
4. Gift Leremi 3
4. Benedict Vilakazi 3
7. Onyekachi Okonkwo 2

[edit] Award winners

Player of the Year Award: Francis Chansa
Players' Player of the Year Award: Edward Malinga
Chairman's Award: Isaac Chansa
Golden Boot Award: Lelo Mbele
Most Improved Player Award: Lucas Thwala
Discovery of the Year Award: Innocent Mdledle
Goal of the Year Award: Gift Leremi

[edit] 2006/2007 First team squad

As of January 31, 2007 (official PSL player registration deadline)

No.	Position	Player
01	GK	Avril Phali
04	DF	Happy Jele
06	FW	Lelo Mbele
07	MF	Gift Leremi
08	FW	Excellent Walaza
09	FW	Manuel Bucuane
11	MF	Jabu Mahlangu
14	DF	Lucky Lekgwathi
15	MF	Benedict Vilakazi (Captain)
17	DF	Lehlohonolo Seema
18	FW	Paulos Masehe
19	DF	Innocent Mdledle
21	MF	Sepeke Manamela
23	FW	Lebohang Mokoena
24	MF	Joseph Makhanya
25	FW	Fikru Tefera

No.	Position	Player
26	FW	Collins Chabalala
28	MF	Onyekachi Okonkwo
30	GK	Senzo Meyiwa
31	DF	Kelebogile Mabe
32	DF	Lucas Thwala
33	DF	Tonic Chabalala
34	MF	Gerald Modabi
35	MF	Isaac Chansa
38	DF	Bongani Cashibe
39	FW	Mulondo Sikhwivhilu
40	FW	Rudzani Ramudzuli
41	MF	Jorry Merahe
42	MF	Bennett Chenene
43	DF	Gary McNab
44	GK	Francis Chansa
45	DF	Isaac Leshabane
—	DF	Tony Coyle