Orlando Pirates FC

For the Namibian football (soccer) club with the same name, see Orlando Pirates Windhoek.

Orlando Pirates

Full name	Orlando Pirates FC
Nickname(s)	Buccaneers, Bucs, Ezikamagebhula, Sea Robbers, Happy People, Amabhakabhaka, Ezimnyama Ngenkani (The black ones)
Founded	1937, as Orlando Boys Club
Ground	Orlando Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg (Capacity: 40,000)
Chairman	Irvin Khoza
Coach	Júlio Leal
League	ABSA Premiership
2010–11	ABSA Premiership, 1st
Home colours Away colours

Orlando Pirates are a South African football (soccer) club based in Parktown, Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League.

The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando, Soweto.^[1] They are named 'Pirates' after the 1940 film The Sea Hawk starring Errol Flynn.^[2] Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season, having won the domestic league, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN 8 during the 2010/2011 season.^[3] Orlando Pirates are famously known for being the only team in South Africa to win the African Champions League in 1995.

History

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa’s oldest football clubs being formed in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.^[1][4] The club's 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’.

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 Saturday League, where they won the Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One in 1944.^[1] 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 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 three times, in 2001, 2003 and 2011. Their first place finish in the 2010/2011 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 are the only South African sports team next to the Springboks and Proteas to be given this status.^[5]

Club chairman, 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.

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.^[6]

The Soweto derby

Main article: Soweto derby

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in world soccer. 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.

Honours

Domestic Premier Soccer League: 3 National Soccer League: 1 1994 National Premier Soccer League: 4 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976 Nedbank Cup: 3 1988, 1996, 2011 Mainstay Cup: 1 1980 Life Challenge Cup: 3 1973, 1974, 1975

MTN 8: 8 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010 , 2011 Castle Challenge: 1 1992 Sales House Cup: 4 1972, 1975, 1977, 1983 Benson and Hedges Trophy: 2 1973, 1974 CAF Champions League- most prestigious african title PSL Reserve League: 1 2007

^[7] – First Cup Winners

Club records

Orlando Pirates youth team players.

• Most appearances – William Okpara 375^[5]
• Most goals – Benedict Vilakazi 52
• Most capped Player – Teko Modise 37 (South Africa)
• Most appearances in a season – William Okpara 51 (1995)
• Most goals in a season – Dennis 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)

Premier Soccer League record

• 1996/97 – 3rd
• 1997/98 – 3rd
• 1998/99 – 3rd
• 1999/00 – 2nd
• 2000/01 – Champions
• 2001/02 – 3rd
• 2002/03 – Champions
• 2003/04 – 5th
• 2004/05 – 2nd
• 2005/06 – 2nd
• 2006/07 – 5th
• 2007/08 – 8th
• 2008/09 – 2nd
• 2009/10 – 5th
• 2010/11 – Champions

Club officials/Technical team

• Chairman and MD: Irvin Khoza
• Coach: Júlio Leal
• Assistant coach: Tebogo Moloi
• Goalkeeper coach: Alexandre Revoredo
• Head of youth development: Augusto Palacios

Orlando Pirates starting line-up in 2009.

2011–12 First team squad

As of August 2, 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Senzo Meyiwa 2 DF Benson Mhlongo 3 DF Lizo Mjempu 4 DF Happy Jele 5 MF Dikgang Mabalane 6 MF Clifford Ngobeni 7 MF Daine Klate 9 FW Bongani Ndulula 11 MF Sameehg Doutie 12 MF Mark Mayambela 14 DF Lucky Lekgwathi (Captain) 15 MF Andile Jali 16 GK Moeneeb Josephs 17 FW Benni McCarthy 22 FW Tomi 'Rapid' Oyemakinde 18 MF Thulasizwe Mbuyane 20 MF Oupa Manyisa

No. Position Player 21 DF Siyabonga Sangweni 23 MF Tlou Segolela 24 DF Njabulo Ntusi 25 FW Rudolf Bester 26 FW Ndumiso Mabena 28 DF Rooi Mahamutsa 29 FW Chiukepo Msowoya 30 DF Robyn Johannes 32 DF Lucas Thwala 33 DF Sibusiso Mxoyana 35 MF Isaac Chansa 37 FW Tokelo Rantie (on loan from IFK Hässleholm) 38 DF Ruben Cloete 40 GK Sikhumbuzo Nkumane GK Brighton Mhlongo

Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in football

10 – Jomo Sono, Midfielder (honor)

13 – Clifford Moleko, Midfielder (posthumous honor)

22 – Lesley Manyathela, Forward (posthumous honor)

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Namibians born before 1990 do not count as foreigners.

• Chiukepo Msowoya
• Isaac Chansa
• Rudolf Bester

Notable former players

see also Category:Orlando Pirates players

"Golden Days" Johannes Khomane (DF) ("Yster") Webster Lichaba (MF) ("City Late") Albert Mahlangu (FW) ("Bashin") Ernest Makhanya (MF) ("Botsotso") Marks Maponyane (FW) ("Go Man Go") Ephraim Mashaba (DF) ("Shakes") Kaizer Motaung (FW) ("Chincha Guluva") Nick Seshweni (DF) ("Bazooka") Mandla Sithole (FW) ("Metroblitz") Ephraim Sono (FW) ("Jomo") Eric Sono (FW) ("Scara")

1990's Osvaldo Nartallo Etienne Nsunda (MF) William Okpara (GK) Mark Fish (DF) ("Feeeesh") Gavin Lane (DF) ("Stability Unit") Aubrey Lekwane (MF) ("Sense of Knowledge") Dan Malesela (DF) ("Dan Dance") China Masondo Helman Mkhalele (MF) ("Midnight Express") Thabo Mngomeni (MF) ("Jah Man") John Moeti (DF) ("Dunga") Edward Motale (DF) ("Magents") Pollen Ndlanya (FW) Dumisa Ngobe (MF) ("Siphithiphithi") Andries Sebola (FW) ("Local is Lekker","Super sub") Jerry Sikhosana (FW) ("Legs of Thunder") Brendan Silent (MF) ("Sgcebhezane") Basil Steenkamp (FW) ("Kaap se Dans") Phiri Tsotetsi (DF) Sibusiso Zuma (FW) ("Rhee") Mandla Zwane (DF) Dennis Lota (FW) ("Chesa Mpama")

Moneeb Josephs (GK) ("Slimkat") 2000's Onyekachi Okonkwo (MF) ("Tico") Andile Jali (MF) ("Gattuso") Steve Lekoelea (MF) ("Chippa") Gift Leremi (MF) ("Svoom Voom, Continental") Mbulelo Mabizela (DF) ("OJ") Joseph Makhanya (MF) ("Duku-Duku") Lesley Manyathela (FW) ("Slow Poison") Oupa Manyisa (MF) ("Ace") Teko Modise (MF) ("The Navigator") Benedict Vilakazi (MF) ("Tso","Little Napoleon")

Lebohang "Cheese Boy" Mokoena

Notable former coaches

• Bibey Mutombo
• Jean-Yves Kerjean
• Shaibu Amodu
• Ted Dumitru
• Viktor Bondarenko
• Kosta Papic
• Milutin Sredojevic
• Joe Frickleton
• Owen Da Gama
• Gordon Igesund
• Roy Barreto
• Ruud Krol

Official sponsor

Vodacom, Black Label, Acer, Grey Hound.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "History – Chapter 1: A)Orlando Pirates are famously known for being the only South African team to win the African Champions League in 1995. BUILDING THE HOUSE OF PIRATES (1937–59)". OrlandoPiratesFC.com. Orlando Pirates FC. http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/default.asp?cId=5294. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
2. ^ Kuper, Simon (October 2009). "Action Replay: Soweto". FourFourTwo (HayMarket): pp. 104. 
3. ^ "Orlando Pirates clinch treble". News24. http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Pirates-clinch-Nedbank-Cup-20110528. Retrieved 12 August 2011. 
4. ^ "Orlando Pirates: The Pirates who ruled Africa". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=44235/index.html. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Orlando Pirates Football Club". Superbrands.com/za. Superbrands. http://www.superbrands.com/za/pdfs/ORLANDO.pdf. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
6. ^ "Ellis Park Stadium". OrlandoPiratesFC.com. Orlando Pirates FC. http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/default.asp?cId=14428. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
7. ^ http://www.kickoff.com/news/23318/orlando-pirates-beat-kaizer-chiefs-in-carling-black-label-cup.php

External links

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League
• PSL Club Info
• South African Football Association
• Confederation of African Football