Orlando Pirates FC

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	Ruud Krol
League	ABSA Premiership
2008-09	ABSA Premiership, 2nd

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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 in the Orlando section of Soweto. They are named 'Pirates' after the 1940 film The Sea Hawk starring Errol Flynn.^[1]

[edit] History

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa’s oldest football clubs being formed in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto. 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’.

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 twice, in 2001 and 2003. Their second-placed finish in the last two 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.

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.

The team recently announced its acquisition of a 51% share in the Coca-Cola Park in Johanesburg's city center.

[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 Wednesday League where they won the title and gained promotion to higher divisions of the association. 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] The 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] Overall record

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
Chiefs	34	10	12	12	32	30
Pirates	34	12	12	10	30	32

[edit] Notable former coaches

[edit] Notable players

[edit] "Golden Days"

[edit] 1990s

[edit] 2000s

[edit] Major honours (since 1971)

African Super Cup titles: 1
1996
African Champions Cup titles: 1
1995
PSL League titles: 2
2000/01, 2002/03
NSL League titles: 1
1994
NPSL League titles: 4
1971, 1973, 1975, 1976
Bob Save Super Bowl titles: 2
1988, 1996
Mainstay Cup titles: 1
1980
Life Challenge titles: 1
1973, 1974, 1975
Top Eight Cup titles: 7
1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000
Castle Challenge titles: 1
1992
Sales House Cup titles: 4
1972, 1975, 1977, 1983
Benson and Hedges titles: 2
1973, 1974
Charity Cup titles: 7
1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2009
Vodacom Challenge titles: 2
1999, 2005
Reserve League titles: 1
2007

[edit] Club records

Most appearances - William Okpara 375
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 - Denis 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

2008/2009 - 2nd
2007/2008 - 8th
2006/2007 - 5th
2005/2006 - 2nd
2004/2005 - 2nd
2003/2004 - 5th
2002/2003 - 1st
2001/2002 - 3rd
2000/2001 - 1st
1999/2000 - 2nd
1998/1999 - 3rd
1997/1998 - 3rd
1996/1997 - 3rd

[edit] Club officials/Technical team

Chairman and MD: Irvin Khoza
Coach: Ruud Krol
Assistant coach: Craig Rosslee
Goalkeeper coach: William Okpara
Head of youth development: Augusto Palacios

[edit] 2009/2010 First team squad

As of November 24, 2009

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Senzo Meyiwa
2	DF	Benson Mhlongo (Vice-captain)
3	DF	Zvenyika Makonese
4	DF	Happy Jele
5	MF	Dikgang Mabalane
6	MF	Mlungisi Mdluli
7	MF	Joseph Kamwendo
8	MF	Phenyo Mongala
9	FW	Siphelele Mthembu
11	MF	Teko Modise
12	MF	Gert Schalkwyk
14	DF	Lucky Lekgwathi
15	MF	Andile Jali
16	GK	Moeneeb Josephs
17	DF	Lehlohonolo Seema (Captain)

No.	Position	Player
18	MF	Thulasizwe Mbuyane
21	FW	Katlego Mashego
24	MF	Joseph Makhanya
26	FW	Ndumiso Mabena
28	DF	Rooi Mahamutsa
29	FW	Thembinkosi Fanteni
30	MF	Lebogang Mothibantwa
31	DF	Kelebogile Mabe
32	DF	Lucas Thwala
33	DF	Mzondi Mthombeni
34	MF	Dennis Masina
36	MF	Oupa Manyisa
42	MF	Bennett Chenene
44	GK	Robert Modiadie
—	MF	Mark Mayambela

[edit] On loan

No.	Position	Player
—	FW	Excellent Walaza (at Bloemfontein Celtic until 30 June 2010)
—	MF	Tlou Segolela (at Bloemfontein Celtic until 30 June 2010)
—	DF	Michael Morton (at Bidvest Wits until 30 June 2010)
—	FW	Gilbert Mushangazhike (at Mpumalanga Black Aces until 30 June 2010)
—	MF	Sepeke Manamela (at Mpumalanga Black Aces until 30 June 2010)
—	MF	Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi (at Thanda Royal Zulu until 30 June 2010)
—	FW	Reason Chiloane (at Thanda Royal Zulu until 30 June 2010)
—	DF	Tshepiso Tshabalala (at Thanda Royal Zulu until 30 June 2010)
—	MF	Tsietsi Mkhwanazi (at African Warriors until 30 June 2010)
—	MF	Thulani Maseko (at African Warriors until 30 June 2010)

[edit] Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in football

10 – Jomo Sono, Midfielder (honor)

13 – Clifford Moleko, Midfielder (posthumous honor)

22 – Lesley Manyathela, Forward (posthumous honor)

[edit] Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered.

[edit] Official sponsor

Vodacom

[edit] References

^ Kuper, Simon (October 2009). "Action Replay: Soweto". FourFourTwo (HayMarket): pp. 104.

[edit] External links

[0] Kuper, Simon (October 2009). "Action Replay: Soweto". FourFourTwo (HayMarket): pp. 104.

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