Orlando Pirates’ title-winning aspirations will have to go against history if they are to end up as the 2025/26 Betway Premiership champions.
The cold facts reveal that Pirates have never been champions after suffering defeat in their opening league match throughout the PSL era years, stretching back to August 1996.
READ: ‘Red alert’ for Chiefs’ debutants
So, to end up as champions this season, Bucs have to do what they have never done before.
1999/2000 – lost 4-1 to Jomo Cosmos, finished second, 11 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns.
2003/04 – lost 2-0 to SuperSport United and ended fifth, 13 points behind eventual champions Kaizer Chiefs.
2006/07 – lost to Maritzburg United 1-0 and were fifth at the end, 15 points behind winners Sundowns.
2007/08 – lost to Moroka Swallows 1-0 and closed the season eighth, 12 points behind champions SuperSport.
2008/09 – lost 1-0 to Golden Arrows and were runners-up, losing the title to Matsatsantsa due to an inferior goal difference.
2013/14 – lost 1-0 to AmaZulu FC and ended up fourth, 19 points behind Sundowns.
2014/15 – lost 2-1 to Swallows and finished fourth, 19 points behind Amakhosi.
2015/16 – lost 1-0 to SuperSport and ended seventh, 30 points behind The Brazilians.
2023/24 – lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch FC and finished second, 23 points behind Sundowns.
Then, in the years when they champions, this is how they started:
2000/01
Under Gordon Igesund, Pirates won 2-1 against African Wanderers in their first league match of that season with Josep Ngake and Phumlani Mkhize on target
2002/03
They won 1-0 against Manning Rangers in their first league game of the season with Hleza Mofedi on target.
READ: Ouaddou’s plug on Makgopa and Mabasa
2010/11
Bucs won 2-1 away at Vasco da Gama with Lucky Lekgwathi and Isaac Chansa on target under the legendary Dutchman Ruud Krol.
2011/12
Pirates won 2-0 against Black Leopards under Julio Leal with Bongani Ndulula and Benni McCarthy scoring.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
