WeeklySA_AdminCULMINATION: Orlando Pirates ended a 14-year title drought in dramatic fashion, dethroning Mamelodi Sundowns after eight years of dominance to claim the Betway Premiership crown on a dramatic final day…
By WSAM Reporter
Orlando Pirates are champions of South Africa once again.
The Soweto giants ended a 14-year wait for league glory on Saturday, defeating Orbit College 2-0 in Nelspruit to clinch their 10th Premier League title and bring Mamelodi Sundowns’ remarkable eight-year reign to an end.
In a tense final-day showdown, Pirates got the result they needed in unusual fashion, with two own goals from Orbit helping seal a victory that sent the Buccaneers to the summit on 69 points — one clear of Sundowns, whose late-season stumble opened the door for a dramatic title twist.
After years of chasing Sundowns’ shadow, Pirates finally rose to reclaim their place at the summit of South African football…
For Pirates, it was the culmination of a season built on consistency, resilience and attacking efficiency after three successive runner-up finishes in which they struggled to mount a serious challenge against Sundowns’ machine-like dominance.
This time, however, the story was different.
Under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the former Moroccan international defender, Pirates delivered the strongest statistical campaign in the league, finishing with the most wins (21), the highest goals tally (58) and the best defensive record with the fewest goals conceded.
Their triumph not only ended Sundowns’ grip on the title but also marked one of the club’s finest modern campaigns, with Pirates adding league success to two domestic cup victories in a memorable season.
For Sundowns, who looked poised to extend their domestic supremacy for a ninth straight year, the closing weeks proved costly as dropped points allowed Pirates to seize the initiative and complete a stunning late surge.
Both Pirates and Sundowns will represent South Africa in next season’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Kaizer Chiefs, despite suffering defeat to Chippa United in Durban on the final day, finished third and secured a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
