WeeklySA_AdminTHE BEGINNING: Pirates to Launch Season with Title Defence
By Ali Mphaki
Orlando Pirates will be one of the first teams on show when the highly-anticipated 2024/25 season gets underway.
After two months of no competitive football in the domestic scene, the first batch of fixtures have been confirmed, with the Soweto Giants set to kick off their campaign with the defence of their MTN 8 title. The Buccaneers host Gauteng rivals SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium in the first quarter-final taking place on Saturday, 3 August. It will be the two side’s first meeting in the competition since the 2018 edition when the Buccaneers bowed out in the first hurdle after going down in the penalty shootout, following a thrilling encounter that ended at two goals apiece.
Pirates have since gone on to triumph in the tournament a further three times, bagging back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 to take their overall tally in Top-Eight football to 12. They remain the most successful team in the MTN8 era, having tasted success a record five times. Now in search of their 13th title overall, the Buccaneers meet Matsatsansa first up, with the Tshwane outfit looking to claim the coveted piece of silverware for the fourth time. The fixture is scheduled to kick off at 18:00.
Pirates concluded their pre-season tour to Spain with defeat as they fell to a 3-2 draw against Qatari champions Al-Sadd on Friday.
It was the Soweto Giants’ first loss on tour, following two draws and a victory over Sevilla, while the men from Doha made it two wins in as many matches in Marbella.
The Sea Robbers have signed six new players so far,
Delvi Miguel Vieira, Selealo Rasebotja, Thalenthe Mbatha, and three newly-promoted starlets in Mohau Nkota, Siyabonga Dladla, and Dimpho Madalane.
The club also unveiled Angolan winger Gilberto as their first official signing of the season.
Meanwhile, the Pirates and leading global sportswear brand adidas this week presented the official home and away jersey for the 24/25 season as an ode to the “Father of Soweto” – James Sofasonke Mpanza.
Born in 1889, Mpanza was instrumental in forming Orlando Pirates in 1937. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for what has become one of the most successful and beloved football clubs in South Africa.
It is often said that the team jersey is a symbol of the supporters it represents – their history, image, and culture. Evolved into a potent medium for conveying narratives and expressing identity, football jersey design demonstrates the intricate interplay between aesthetics, symbolism, and functionality.
While the world continues to stream forward, never before has there been more value in honouring the past. This season we see Orlando Pirates pay tribute to one of its forefathers, championing the club’s rich history.
