Orlando Pirates are one of South Africa’s most recognisable football institutions, rooted in Orlando township in Soweto and founded in 1937. The club’s black-and-white identity, skull-and-crossbones badge and Orlando Stadium setting connect a strong local culture with a major continental tradition. This team page brings together the recorded 2026 squad, coaching chronology, recent movement, competition participation and a durable profile of the Buccaneers. It places current-season information alongside the club’s historic role in South African and African football.
Orlando Pirates Upcoming matches by league
Premier Soccer League
-
- Regular Season - 6
Orlando Pirates
Durban City
-
- Regular Season - 7
Marumo Gallants
Orlando Pirates
Thohoyandou Stadium -
- Regular Season - 8
Orlando PiratesNo H2HTS Galaxy
-
- Regular Season - 9
Orlando PiratesNo H2HKaizer Chiefs
8 Cup
-
- Final
Orlando PiratesNo H2HMamelodi Sundowns
Orlando Pirates Last matches by league
Premier Soccer League
8 Cup
CAF Champions League
Friendlies Clubs
Cup
Orlando Pirates Team Roster
Orlando Pirates’ recorded squad contains 37 players: 15 midfielders, 12 defenders, eight attackers and two goalkeepers. The midfield group includes M. Makhaula, O. Appollis, P. Maswanganyi and T. Mbatha, while the defensive options include T. Xoki, N. Sibisi, D. Hotto and D. Van Rooyen. E. Makgopa, S. Pedersen and Y. Mbuthuma add attacking names, with S. Chaine and S. Dladla listed in goal. The roster also includes Bohlale Ngwato, N. Rapoo and T. Mokobodi, giving the recorded group a broad positional spread.
position Goalkeeper
position Defender
C. Derbyshire
Nkosikhona Ndaba
Nkosinathi Sibisi
Lebone Seema
N. Rapoo
Siyabulela Mabele
Tapelo Xoki
Kamogelo Sebelebele
Sbangani Zulu
Mpho Chabatsane
position Midfielder
Abdoulaye Mariko
Deon Daniel Hotto Kavendji
Makhehlene Makhaula
Tshepang Moremi
Andre Ernest de Jong
Masindi Confidence Nemtajela
Thalente Mbatha
S. Selepe
Gamphani Jones Lungu
Matome Mmolai
Mthetheleli Sibansezwe Mthiyane
Sihle Nduli
Thapelo Paulos Mokobodi
C. Dansin
S. Masilela
position Attacker
Yamela Mbuthuma
Oswin Reagan Appollis
Mohau Nkota
Sekotori Evidence Makgopa
Boitumelo Lawrence Radiopane
Sebastian Pedersen
M. Padime
Daniel Msendami
Bohlale Ngwato
K. Kgosietsile
Last Orlando Pirates Coachs
Abdeslam Ouaddou is the most recent recorded appointment, beginning on 1 July 2025, but the coaching chronology does not confirm a current holder. Mandla Ncikazi is also listed from May 2025, while José Luis Riveiro’s spell ran from June 2022 to May 2025. Ncikazi and Fadluraghman Davids appear in the earlier 2021–2022 chronology.
Abdeslam Ouaddou
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdeslam Ouaddou | Morocco | 1 July 2025 | |
| Mandla Ncikazi | South Africa | 1 May 2025 | |
| José Luis Riveiro | Spain | 1 June 2022 | 1 May 2025 |
| Mandla Ncikazi | South Africa | 1 August 2021 | 1 June 2022 |
| Fadluraghman Davids | South Africa | 1 August 2021 | 1 June 2022 |
| Josef Zinnbauer | Germany | 1 December 2019 | 1 August 2021 |
| Rulani Mokwena | South Africa | 1 August 2019 | 1 December 2019 |
| Milutin Sredojević | Serbia | 1 August 2017 | 1 August 2019 |
| Kjell Jonevret | Sweden | 1 February 2017 | 1 August 2017 |
| 1 November 2016 | |||
| Muhsin Ertuğral | Türkiye | 1 July 2016 | 1 November 2016 |
| Vladimir Vermezović | Serbia | 1 March 2014 | 1 December 2014 |
| Eric Tinkler | South Africa | 1 January 2014 | 1 June 2016 |
| Ruud Krol | Netherlands | 1 July 2008 | 30 June 2011 |
Orlando Pirates Transfers
The available recent arrivals show a mixed movement pattern rather than a complete register. Recorded transfers include T. Mokobodi and M. Mthiyane from Stellenbosch, Z. Sbangani from Richards Bay, G. Lungu, A. Baliti, Bohlale Ngwato and N. Rapoo from Siwelele, plus M. Chabatsane from Marumo Gallants and A. De Jong from Stellenbosch. D. Msendami is listed as a free agent arrival. Several players are recorded as returning from loans, including Gilberto, G. Mosele, T. Mabasa, Y. Madiba, Abdoulaye Mariko and K. Kimvuidi. These entries describe movement recorded through that date, not a complete seasonal total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Nkota |
Al-Ettifaq
|
Loan | 2 September 2026 |
| Dublin Boon |
Stellenbosch
|
Transfer | 12 August 2026 |
| T. Mokobodi |
Stellenbosch
|
Transfer | 28 July 2026 |
| T. Mokobodi |
Stellenbosch
|
Transfer | 28 July 2026 |
| S. Zulu |
Richards Bay
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| M. Mthiyane |
Stellenbosch
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| Matome Mmolai |
Leicesterfield
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| N. Rapoo |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
|
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 | |
| A. Baliti |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| G. Lungu |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
|
Richards Bay
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 | |
| Y. Madiba |
Orbit College
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| S. Mabele |
Orbit College
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Lonwabo Magugwana |
Chippa United
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
The recent departures recorded include transfers such as R. Mofokeng to Union St. Gilloise, M. Mbokazi to Chicago Fire, S. Rasebotja to Siwelele, G. Mosele to Chippa United and S. Kwayiba to Chippa United. Loans sent T. Lebitso to Stellenbosch, A. Baliti to Siwelele, Abdoulaye Mariko to Orbit College and Lonwabo Magugwana to Chippa United. Free-agent departures include M. Buthelezi, S. Mbule, K. Kimvuidi and Gilberto. T. Mabasa appears in two dated exits, while several entries have no stated movement type. This is a recent recorded sample, not a complete departure total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| P. Maswanganyi |
Khalidiya
|
Transfer | 22 August 2026 |
| T. Mabasa |
Maghreb Fès
|
Free agent | 2 August 2026 |
| S. Rasebotja |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 31 July 2026 |
| B. Shandu |
Durban City
|
- | 30 July 2026 |
| S. Rasebotja |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 30 July 2026 |
| G. Mosele |
Chippa United
|
Transfer | 29 July 2026 |
| M. Buthelezi |
Sekhukhune United
|
Free agent | 16 July 2026 |
| M. Buthelezi |
Sekhukhune United
|
Free agent | 15 July 2026 |
| S. Rasebotja |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 5 July 2026 |
| T. Sesane |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 5 July 2026 |
| T. Sesane |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 4 July 2026 |
| S. Rasebotja |
Siwelele
|
Transfer | 4 July 2026 |
| A. Baliti |
Siwelele
|
Loan | 1 July 2026 |
| R. Mofokeng |
Union St. Gilloise
|
Transfer | 1 July 2026 |
| Y. Madiba |
Marumo Gallants
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
Orlando Pirates’ recorded movement reflects an active period of squad turnover across the 2025–26 cycle, although the available lists are capped samples and cannot establish a complete balance. Arrivals include permanent transfers from Stellenbosch, Richards Bay, Siwelele and Marumo Gallants, a free-agent addition in D. Msendami, and numerous returns from loan spells. Departures show a similarly varied pattern, with transfers abroad and within South Africa, loans to domestic clubs, and free-agent exits. The same player can appear in more than one dated movement, as shown by T. Mabasa’s exits and Abdoulaye Mariko’s return and subsequent loan entry. The records therefore describe several forms of squad movement rather than a single transfer trend. They also show that movement continued across January, March, June, July and August 2026, with no recorded fees to support financial comparisons.
Leagues Orlando Pirates has participated in
Orlando Pirates have recent recorded participation through 2025 in the Premier Soccer League, 8 Cup, League Cup, CAF Champions League and Friendlies Clubs. The Premier Soccer League is the club’s recorded league competition, while the other entries are cup or friendly programmes. The CAF Champions League places the club in the continental record, alongside domestic competition activity. The general Cup entry is historical through 2024, and the CAF Confederation Cup is historical in the recorded profile from 2020 to 2021. These dates describe recorded participation windows rather than confirming a 2026 fixture list or present competition status.
More about Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates Football Club, commonly known as Orlando Pirates or the Buccaneers, is a South African club founded in 1937 and based in Orlando township, Soweto, Johannesburg. Its traditional black-and-white colours and skull-and-crossbones badge give the club a distinctive visual identity, while the pirate motif connects its public image with a long local tradition. The club’s origins are associated with the Orlando Boys Club, formed by local teenagers in 1934. The iconic name was inspired by the 1940 adventure film The Sea Hawk, whose sea-rover imagery helped shape the identity that followed.
Orlando Amstel Arena, historically and locally known as Orlando Stadium, sits in Orlando East and forms an important part of the club’s sense of place. The venue is owned by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, linking the team to the civic and cultural fabric of Soweto. The home colours, local identity and long presence in Johannesburg have made Orlando Pirates a prominent institution in South African football culture. The club is privately steered under the long-standing chairmanship of Dr. Irvin Khoza, whose leadership is associated with its modern institutional era and continental profile.
The club’s continental heritage is anchored by its 1995 triumph in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, the competition now known as the CAF Champions League. That success is commemorated by the single gold star above the crest, while the skull and crossbones continue to represent fearlessness and competitive edge. Orlando Pirates’ recorded competition ecosystem includes the Premier Soccer League, domestic cup programmes, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. This combination of local league presence, knockout football and continental history helps explain the club’s enduring standing in South African football. Its identity combines black-and-white visual tradition, Soweto roots and a broad African football outlook.
Last matches statistics for Orlando Pirates
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orlando Pirates
2 - 0
Milford FC
|
5 / 12 |
|
84 | 16 | 1 | 4 |
|
Orlando Pirates
2 - 1
Durban City
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Amazulu
1 - 1
Orlando Pirates
|
8 / 24 |
|
88 | 4 | - | 0 |
|
Chippa United
0 - 3
Orlando Pirates
|
8 / 14 |
|
90 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
|
Sekhukhune United
0 - 1
Orlando Pirates
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Orlando Pirates
2 - 0
Sekhukhune United
|
4 / 10 |
|
81 | 10 | 1 | 6 |
|
Orlando Pirates
3 - 0
Sekhukhune United
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Kruger United
0 - 4
Orlando Pirates
|
6 / 13 |
|
0% | 13 | - | 1 |
|
La Cure Waves
0 - 0
Orlando Pirates
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Orlando Pirates
3 - 1
La Cure Waves
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
Detailed statistics Orlando Pirates
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).