Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates
Full name	Orlando Pirates Football Club
Nickname(s)	Buccaneers, Bucs, Ezikamagebhula, Sea Robbers, Happy People, Amabhakabhaka,; Ezimnyama Ngenkani (The black ones)
Founded	1937, as Orlando Boys Club
Ground	Orlando Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg; (Capacity: 40,000)
Chairman	Irvin Khoza
Coach	Júlio Leal
League	ABSA Premiership
2010–11	ABSA Premiership, 1st
Home colours	Away colours

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For the Namibian football (soccer) club with the same name, see Orlando Pirates Windhoek.

Orlando Pirates are a South African football (soccer) club based in Parktown, Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League.

The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando, Soweto.^[1] They are named 'Pirates' after the 1940 film The Sea Hawk starring Errol Flynn.^[2] Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season, having won the domestic league, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN 8 during the 2010-11 season.^[3] They are the only South African team to have won the CAF Champions League, which they did in 1995.

[edit] History

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa’s oldest football clubs being formed in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto.^[1]^[4] The club's performances over the years have served as an inspiration for young soccer players to strive to play the Beautiful Game at the highest level in the black and white colours of the ‘Buccaneers’.

[edit] Early years

The founders of Orlando Pirates included offspring of migrant workers who moved from rural areas to work in the gold mines of Gauteng. Boys in Orlando came together at every available opportunity in open spaces and in informal groupings to play soccer. That original club was called the Orlando Boys Club.

In 1940, Buthuel Mokgosinyane, the first president, bought the first team kit with his own funds. Orlando Boys participated in Johannesburg Bantu Association's Saturday League, where they won the Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One in 1944.^[1] Andrew Bassie, a key member of the team, suggested the new name 'Orlando Pirates'. The team composed the camp's war cry 'Ezimnyama Ngenkani'.

[edit] Since 1971

Orlando Pirates supporters.

Over the years, Orlando Pirates – also known as ‘The Happy People’ – have accumulated a record of success having won the National Professional Soccer League title in 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976, the National Soccer League title in 1994, and the Premier Soccer League title three times, in 2001, 2003 and 2011. Their first place finish in the 2010/2011 domestic league campaigns has generated much excitement among the club’s vast fan-base.

Many other cup triumphs in domestic soccer have also been recorded, including Vodacom Challenge title victories in the inaugural 1999 tournament and in 2005. But the African continent and other areas of the soccer world took notice of Orlando Pirates Football Club when they won the African Champions Cup (now known as the Champions League) in 1995 and the African Super Cup a year later. Pirates were and still are the only Southern Hemisphere club to have won the African Champions League. This achievement resulted in the club being honoured by the first State President of the new democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela – another first for a South African sporting team.

In 2005, Orlando Pirates achieved Superbrand status. Superbrands is an international company that identifies and rewards the leading brands around the world; Pirates are the only South African sports team next to the Springboks and Proteas to be given this status.^[5]

Club chairman, Irvin Khoza, who also served on the World Cup Bid Committee, must be credited with the club’s rise to fame over the past few years as the Orlando Pirates supporters – who are nicknamed ‘The Ghost’ – have had much to cheer about.

Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung and his Jomo Cosmos counterpart Jomo Sono were popular players of the highest calibre for the Buccaneers before starting their own clubs. Their playing history is deeply entrenched in the black and white colours of Orlando Pirates.

In 2005, the team, along with Interza Lesego and Ellis Park Stadium Ltd, announced its acquisition of a 51% share in Ellis Park Stadium, making it the first majority black owned stadium in South Africa.^[6]

[edit] The Soweto derby

Main article: Soweto derby

The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in world soccer. And in contrast to most of the other games played in the Premier Soccer League in SA, matches between the two arch rivals attract a full house almost without fail.

[edit] Honours

Premier Soccer League: 3

2001, 2003, 2011

National Soccer League: 1

1994

National Premier Soccer League: 4

1971, 1973, 1975, 1976

Nedbank Cup: 3

1988, 1996, 2011

Telkom Knockout: 1

2011

Mainstay Cup: 1

1980

Life Challenge Cup: 3

1973, 1974, 1975

MTN 8: 9

1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2011

Castle Challenge: 1

1992

Sales House Cup: 4

1972, 1975, 1977, 1983

Benson and Hedges Trophy: 2

1973, 1974

CAF Champions League: 1

1995

PSL Reserve League: 1

2007

Carling Black Label Cup: 1

2011

[edit] Club records

Orlando Pirates youth team players.

Most appearances – William Okpara 375^[5]
Most goals – Benedict Vilakazi 52
Most capped Player – Teko Modise 37 (South Africa)
Most appearances in a season – William Okpara 51 (1995)
Most goals in a season – Dennis Lota 23 (1999/00)
Record win – 9–1 v Olympics (Bob Save Super Bowl 7/3/99)
Record loss – 1–6 v Sundowns (BP Top 8 Cup 3/2/90)

[edit] Premier Soccer League record

1996/97 – 3rd
1997/98 – 3rd
1998/99 – 3rd
1999/00 – 2nd
2000/01 – Champions
2001/02 – 3rd
2002/03 – Champions
2003/04 – 5th
2004/05 – 2nd
2005/06 – 2nd
2006/07 – 5th
2007/08 – 8th
2008/09 – 2nd
2009/10 – 5th
2010/11 – Champions

[edit] Club officials/Technical team

Chairman and MD: Irvin Khoza
Coach: Júlio Leal
Assistant coach: Tebogo Moloi
Goalkeeper coach: Alexandre Revoredo
Head of youth development: Augusto Palacios

Orlando Pirates starting line-up in 2009.

[edit] 2011–12 First team squad

As of February 2, 2012 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Senzo Meyiwa
2	DF	Benson Mhlongo
3	DF	Lizo Mjempu
4	DF	Happy Jele
5	MF	Dikgang Mabalane
7	MF	Daine Klate
9	FW	Bongani Ndulula
12	MF	Mark Mayambela
14	DF	Lucky Lekgwathi (Captain)
15	MF	Andile Jali
16	GK	Moeneeb Josephs
17	FW	Benni McCarthy
18	MF	Thulasizwe Mbuyane
19	DF	Bheki Nzunga
20	MF	Oupa Manyisa
21	DF	Siyabonga Sangweni
23	MF	Tlou Segolela

No.	Position	Player
24	DF	Njabulo Ntusi
25	FW	Rudolf Bester
26	FW	Ndumiso Mabena
27	MF	Boubacar Talatou
28	DF	Rooi Mahamutsa
30	DF	Thabo Matlaba
33	MF	Cyril Mashego
35	MF	Isaac Chansa
36	DF	Sibusiso Mxoyana
37	FW	Tokelo Rantie (on loan from IFK Hässleholm)
38	DF	Ruben Cloete
39	GK	Getúlio Vargas
40	GK	Sikhumbuzo Nkumane
44	MF	Thandani Ntshumayelo
72	FW	Luis Boa Morte
80	MF	Njabulo Manqana
	MF	Sifiso Myeni

[edit] On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
		DF	Lucas Thwala (at Platinum Stars until 30 June 2012)
		FW	Patrick Malokase (at Platinum Stars until 30 June 2012)
		FW	Chiukepo Msowoya (at Platinum Stars until 30 June 2012)
		MF	Mduduzi Nyanda (at Platinum Stars until 30 June 2012)
		MF	Sibusiso Mnguni (at Chippa United until 30 June 2012)
		DF	Vusi Mthimkulu (at Chippa United until 30 June 2012)
		MF	William Twala (at Chippa United until 30 June 2012)
		DF	Robyn Johannes (at Golden Arrows until 30 June 2012)
		MF	Phenyo Mongala (at Bloemfontein Celtic until 30 June 2012)