• Tournament Background
• Stars of the Past
• Vodacom Challenge Records
• Results and Line-ups

• Peter Mokaba Stadium
• Mbombela Stadium
• Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• Coca Cola Park Stadium

• Fixtures

• Accreditation Forms

One of the oldest and most respected clubs in South Africa, Pirates was formed 74 years ago and have enjoyed a rich and successful history to date.

Flash a badge with a skull and crossbones on it at almost any South African and they will know you’re talking about Orlando Pirates.

From humble beginnings in 1937, Orlando Pirates Football Club has become more than just one of the most recognisable brands in South Africa: It is ingrained in the Culture of the culture of the country. For the millions of fans across the country, there’s no grey area. It’s black and white!

Andries ‘Pele Pele’ Mkhwanazi is considered the father of Pirates having persuaded a young group of players from the Orlando Boys Club to form a team in 1937. He called the young group ‘amapirate’, inspired by the many Pirates movies around at the time, and they played in the lower leagues of the Johannesburg Bantu Football Association (JBFA).

The team won promotion to the top-flight of the JBFA in 1944, and won the country’s elite cup competition, the SA Robertson Cup, in 1950.

They claimed their first countrywide trophy when they won the 1971 National Professional Soccer League in its first year. In fact, they would dominate the early years, winning again in 1973, 1975 and 1976.

The 1970s was by far the most successful decade for The Buccaneers as, apart from those League titles, they claimed three Life Challenge Cup trophies, three BP Top Eight titles and three Sales House Cup wins.

They achieved their greatest success when they were crowned Kings of Africa in 1995 when they won the then CAF Champions Cup. Pirates remain the only South African side ever to win the competition.

History in Vodacom Challenge

The Buccaneers as Pirates are affectionately known, were the very first winners of the Vodacom Challenge in 1999, beating Tunisian giants Esperance 4-1 in the final. They lifted their second title in 2005 by defeating arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1.

The change in format of the competition saw the introduction of European teams. In 2007, Pirates met English club Tottenham Hotspur, who emerged 3-0 victors.

In 2009, Manchester City came to town and although Pirates were able to beat the English giants in the opening match of the competition – a loss to rivals Chiefs in the semi-finals, denied them an opportunity to repeat the feat in the final.

TECHNICAL STAFF

CLUB RECORDS

VODACOM CHALLENGE HISTORY

OTHER HONOURS