The victory crowned Orlando Pirates Betway Premiership champions on 68 points, finishing two ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns on 65.
The Buccaneers defeated Orbit College to secure the 2025/26 Betway Premiership title, ending a 14-year wait for league glory and finally bringing Mamelodi Sundowns’ remarkable run of dominance to an end.
ORLANDO PIRATES FINALLY BREAK THROUGH
It is Pirates’ first league championship since the 2011/12 season and their fifth title of the PSL era after previous triumphs in 2000/01, 2002/03, 2010/11 and 2011/12.
The result also confirmed Orbit College’s relegation only one season after their promotion to the top flight. Pirates started the afternoon with the urgency of a side sensing history.
Relebohile Mofokeng had an early effort ruled offside inside three minutes before Thalente Mbatha tested the goalkeeper from distance in the eighth minute.
Mofokeng remained lively and came close again on 12 minutes when his effort sailed over before missing another big opportunity four minutes later after guiding an inside-foot finish narrowly wide from inside the box.
The biggest chance of the half fell to Tshepang Moremi. The winger found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute but clipped his effort over the crossbar with the title race still hanging in the balance.
Then came the breakthrough. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Pirates won a corner and Orbit goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo endured a nightmare moment, punching the ball into his own net to send the Buccaneers into the break with the lead.
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END OF THE SUNDOWNS ERA
The second half barely settled before Pirates struck again.
Orbit defender Ndumiso Ngiba turned the ball over his own goalkeeper under pressure from Yanela Mbutha in the 48th minute to make it 2-0.
Moremi had another opportunity moments later but rushed his effort over the bar. This time, however, it did not matter.
The title was heading to Orlando. Pirates finally end the dynasty that defined modern South African football.
Between 2017/18 and 2024/25, Mamelodi Sundowns captured eight straight league titles and reshaped the domestic game through dominance, depth and consistency.
Pirates were often the closest challengers, finishing runners-up five times during that period while collecting domestic cups.
Having earlier won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout, Abeslam Ouaddou’s team are treble winners.
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