Orlando Pirates ended a 14-year wait for the league title by clinching the 2025/26 Betway Premiership crown when they beat Orbit College 2-0 to lift the coveted piece of silverware at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.Â
A dream campaign finished in glory for the Buccaneers who captured what had been an elusive trophy to complete a domestic treble for the third time in the PSL era.
Went down to the final day
They ended the campaign with a club record 21 league victories in a 30-game season, with the three points earned in the final fixture taking their tally to 69.
On their return to a venue where they had already lifted silverware this season, the Buccaneers faced a high pressure situation as the title race went down to the final match day.
Needing nothing less than three points to clinch the title, the intent was clear from the first whistle as they dictated matters from the onset.
It took a stroke of luck to get the Buccaneers on the board as the pressure told on Orbit College goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo on the stroke of half-time.
The Mswenko Boys shot stopper’s attempt at a clearance from a corner backfired as he punched the ball into his own net.
Bit of luck
It was the bit of luck needed to spur the visitors on further, and they launched another relentless attack on the Orbit College defence from the second half restart.
It did not take long for their intensity to pay off as they went two goals clear through another own goal, this time from defender Ndumiso Ngiba who crumbled under the pressure brought on by Bucs striker Yanela Mbuthuma as he toed the ball past Nkomo into the net.Â
The signal for full-time eventually sounded out, confirming the end of one of the more captivating PSL title races to date with the Soweto giants holding their nerve to clinch it on the final day to complete a treble.
Final Betway Premiership standings
Next season
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will represent South Africa in next season’s CAF Champions League.
Kaizer Chiefs, by virtue of their third-place finish, and Durban City, thanks to their Nedbank Cup victory, will enter the CAF Confederations Cup.
The MTN8 line-up will be as follows:
Orlando Pirates vs Durban City
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City
Kaizer Chiefs vs Golden Arrows
AmaZulu FC vs Sekhukhune United
PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoff fixtures
Finally, Orbit College were relegated from the Betway Premiership. They will be replaced by Kruger United.
Meanwhile, 15th-placed Magesi FC will head into the promotion-relegation playoffs along with NFD sides Cape Town City FC and Milford FC.
The playoffs run from 26 May to 13 June 2026, with matches taking place in a round-robin format where each team plays the others both home and away.
The round-robin winner will either remain in the Betway Premiership or be promoted.
- Tuesday, 26 May:Â Cape Town City FC vs Milford FC
- Saturday, 30 May:Â Magesi FC vs Cape Town City FC
- Wednesday, 3 June:Â Milford FC vs Magesi FC
- Saturday, 6 June:Â Milford FC vs Cape Town City FC
- Wednesday, 10 June:Â Cape Town City FC vs Magesi FC
- Saturday, 13 June:Â Magesi FC vs Milford FC
