Orlando Pirates: Coach, Stadium, Trophies and the 2026/27 Title Defence
Orlando Pirates at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937, as Orlando Boys Club |
| Chairman | Irvin Khoza |
| Home stadium | Orlando Stadium, Soweto (about 37,000 seats); big games at FNB Stadium |
| Head coach | Abdeslam Ouaddou (since June 2025) |
| Nicknames | The Buccaneers, Bucs, Amabhakabhaka, the Sea Robbers, the Happy People |
| Competitions in 2026/27 | PSL Premiership, MTN8, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, CAF Champions League |
| 2025/26 | League champions, MTN8 and Carling Knockout winners |
The Coach: Abdeslam Ouaddou
Abdeslam Ouaddou, born in Morocco in 1978, is a former international centre-back who played for Fulham in England and for Nancy in France. He took over from José Riveiro in June 2025. In his first season Pirates won the MTN8, the Carling Knockout and the league, beating Mamelodi Sundowns to first place on the last day of the season.
The 2026/27 Season So Far
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2026 | Title defence started at home to newly promoted Milford |
| August to October 2026 | Unbeaten in the first eight league games: 7 wins and 1 draw, second in mid-October, one point behind Sundowns with a game in hand |
| 10 October 2026 | Lost the MTN8 final 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in Durban, ending their run of four MTN8 titles in a row |
| 13 October 2026 | Beat TS Galaxy 3-0 in the league |
| October 2026 | CAF Champions League second round, first leg: beat African Stars of Namibia 1-0 in Gaborone, with a goal from Tshepang Moremi |
Squad Changes for 2026/27
Pirates named a 41-player senior squad for the season.
| In | From |
|---|---|
| Mthetheleli Mthiyane (defender) | Stellenbosch FC, in a swap with Thabiso Lebitso |
| Sbangani Zulu | Richards Bay |
| Bohale Ngwato | Siwelele |
| Ghampani Lungu | Siwelele |
| Out | Where |
|---|---|
| Relebohile Mofokeng | Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium (July 2026), for a reported fee of about €3.5 million |
| Mbekezeli Mbokazi | Chicago Fire, USA (early 2026), for a reported fee of about US$3 million |
| Bandile Shandu, Sipho Mbule, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Karim Kimvuidi, Gilberto | Contracts ended |
Neither the Mofokeng nor the Mbokazi fee was officially confirmed by the clubs.
Players to Know
| Player | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sipho Chaine | Goalkeeper | Bafana Bafana squad member |
| Evidence Makgopa | Striker | Four goals in five games against Kaizer Chiefs |
| Tshepang Moremi | Winger | Scored the winner against African Stars |
| Oswin Appollis | Winger | Bafana Bafana squad member |
| Yanela Mbuthuma | Striker | Two league goals early in 2026/27 |
| Boitumelo Radiopane | Striker | Three league goals in five games early in 2026/27 |
Key Orlando Pirates Matches Coming Up
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Late October 2026 | Orlando Pirates v Milford | Carling Knockout, last 16 |
| Late October 2026 | Return leg against African Stars | CAF Champions League |
| Saturday 31 October 2026, 15:30 | Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs, FNB Stadium | League, Soweto Derby |
| Saturday 13 March 2027 | Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates, FNB Stadium | League, Soweto Derby |
| 22 May 2027 | Last league round | League |
Trophies
| Competition | Titles | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| League | 10 | 2025/26 |
| Nedbank Cup (FA Cup) | 10 | 2023/24 |
| MTN8 (Top 8) | 14 | 2025 |
| Carling Knockout (League Cup) | 2 | 2025 |
| CAF Champions League | 1 | 1995, the first South African club to win it |
| CAF Super Cup | 1 | 1996 |
Where to Watch Orlando Pirates
Every Pirates league match is shown on SuperSport on DStv. Free matches on SABC 1 depend on the SABC’s sub-licence deal for the season, so check SABC Sport’s listings each week.
Orlando Pirates Questions
Who is the Orlando Pirates coach?
Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Morocco international, who took over in June 2025.
Did Orlando Pirates win the league?
Yes. Pirates won the 2025/26 league title, their first in 14 years, as part of a treble with the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout.
Who won the 2026 MTN8 final?
Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Pirates 2-0 in Durban on 10 October 2026.
Who did Orlando Pirates sign for 2026/27?
Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Sbangani Zulu, Bohale Ngwato and Ghampani Lungu.
Where do Orlando Pirates play?
At Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Big matches, such as the Soweto Derby, are played at FNB Stadium.
When is the next Pirates vs Chiefs match?
On Saturday 31 October 2026 at FNB Stadium, listed for 15:30.
More: Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Soweto Derby and the PSL 2026/27 season guide.