Orlando Pirates F.C.

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa's oldest football clubs having been established in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto. Early years 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. 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. 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. The Ghost Orlando Pirates’ supporters are known as “the Ghost” and produce an intimidating atmosphere on match days at Orlando Stadium. 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. The Soweto derby The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a fiercely contested derby. The first match was on 24 January 1971. ==Honours==

Amateur Era (1937-1960) Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division Two • Champions (1): 1939 Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA) Saturday League Division One • Champions (3): 1955, 1956 & 1959 Johannesburg African Football Association (JAFA) Summer League • Champions (2): 1950, 1952 Transvaal Challenge Cup • Champions (3): 1952, 1955, 1959 SA Robertson Cup • Champions (4): 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 Robor Shield Cup • Champions (1): 1959 Cup Competitions (unofficial) Castle Challenge • Champions (1): 1992 Sales House Cup • Champions (5): 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 (2) record: 2007, 2026 ==Performance in CAF Competitions==

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. • 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 Overall matches == Crest and colours ==

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors ==Club ranking==

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

• Walter Da Silva (1988) • Shepherd Murape (1994) • Joe Frickleton (1995) • Viktor Bondarenko (1995–1996) • Shaibu Amodu (1996–1997) • Ted Dumitru (1999–2000) • Gordon Igesund (2000–2001) • Jean-Yves Kerjean (2001–2002) • Kosta Papić (2004–2005) • Milutin Sredojević (2006–2007) • Bibey Mutombo (2007) • Owen Da Gama (2007–2008) • Ruud Krol (2008–2011) • Júlio César Leal (2011–2012) • Augusto Palacios (interim; 2012) • Roger De Sa (2012–2014) • Eric Tinkler (interim; 2014) • Vladimir Vermezović (2014–2015) • Eric Tinkler (2015–2016) • Muhsin Ertuğral (2016) • Augusto Palacios (interim; 2016–2017) • Kjell Jonevret (2017) • Milutin Sredojević (2017–2019) • Rulani Mokwena (interim; 2019) • Josef Zinnbauer (2019–2021) • Fadlu Davids & Mandla Ncikazi (interims; 2021–2022) • José Riveiro (2022-2025) • Abdeslam Ouaddou (2025–present) ==Club records==

• Most appearances: Happy Jele 401 • 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) Premiership record == Coaching staff ==

©, 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. ==Players==

First team squad Players out on loan ==Jersey number retirement==

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.As of 2024, the jersey has been worn in CAF Champions League by Patrick Maswanganyi Jersey number 13 was retired to honour Clifford 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. Jersey number 1 was retired to honour goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa after his assassination in 2014. ==References==