Orlando Pirates are the 2025/26 Betway Premiership champions following a 2-0 win over Orbit College FC at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Thanks to own goals in either half by Orbit goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo and defender Ndumiso Ngiba, the Buccaneers sailed to victory to halt Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight-season reign as champions. The maximum points collected on the road saw Pirates jumping to the top of the table to settle with a point better than second-placed Masandawana
It also ended 14 years of Pirates going without winning the PSL title while the Mswenko Boys dropped from 15th-place to the bottom of the log to be relegated.
The Soweto giants’ lethargy in front of goal was again on show, and they had the own goals to save the day for them and ultimately deliver them league glory. That now leaves Sundowns under immense pressure to win the CAF Champions League title against AS FAR Rabat on Sunday and avoid ending the season empty-handed.
Going into Saturday’s match with a record of two wins, three draws, and five losses in their last 10 games, Orbit coach Pogiso Makhoye made a whopping nine changes to the team that started and lost 2-0 to Stellenbosch FC last weekend.
He opted for goalkeeper Nkomo in place of Sekhoane Moerane while the likes of Ngiba, Samukelo Mkhize, Axolile Noyo, Realebiga Potsana, Reotshepile Letlhake, Kgotso Masangane, Lethabo Modimoeng and Mbulelo Wagaba came in as fresh faces.
After the brace decision of starting Simphiwe Selepe for the first time this season against Durban City FC, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou brought back the 21-year-old midfielder into the line-up. But veteran left-back Deon Hotto was dropped to the bench for Nkosikhona Ndaba while Patrick Maswanganyi made way for Tshepang Moremi.
OWN GOALS HAND ORLANDO PIRATES THE PSL TITLE
Pirates dominated proceedings from the first whistle but struggled to find tyhe breakthrough as they threatened to fire blanks the way they did against Durban City seven days earlier. Relebohile came close but had his shot grazing the upright post after 17 minutes.
Moremi was then released by Oswin Appollis in the 33rd minute, but shot over the bar with only Nkomo to beat. There was a scare for Pirates when Orbit almost took the lead two minutes before halftime when Modimoeng forced a save from Sipho Chaine in goals for the Soweto giants.
Trying to defend a corner kick delivery from Moremi, Nkomo then punched the ball into the back of his own net while under the challenge of Thalente Mbatha in the stoppage time of the first half. Another own goal by Orbit was to follow five minutes into the second stanza when Ngiba beat Nkomo while trying to clear danger from an advancing Yanela Mbuthuma.
It could have been three goals up for the Buccaneers shortly after, but Moremi lacked composure and shot over the bar while facing an empty net. Kamogelo Sebelebele then drew Nkomo to deny him when it would have been easy for the Pirates right-back to set up Evidence Makgopa, who had just come on. It then ended 2-0 in favour of Pirates.
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