Orlando Pirates have proven to be a formidable force in South African football, consistently winning trophies despite changes in coaching staff.
Under Jose Riveiro, the Buccaneers claimed five trophies in three years. His successor, Adeslam Ouaddou, has already secured two cups in just his first six months in charge.
With a total of eight trophies in the last five years, Orlando Pirates have earned the title of cup kings in South African football.
During this period, they have only lost two of the ten finals in which they participated.
Their most recent victory was in the Carling Knockout Cup, where they narrowly defeated Marumo Gallants 1-0 this past weekend.
What has contributed to Orlando Pirates’ remarkable success? Why so many trophies?
For many years, the Bucs faithful believed their team was cursed, as the club went a decade without winning any domestic cups.
In the first 14 years of the Premier Soccer League, the Buccaneers managed to secure only two league titles and two domestic cups, while losing nearly ten finals. Fans feared they would never see their beloved team lift another trophy again.
Meanwhile, their rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, continued to win trophies each season, leaving Orlando Pirates supporters to watch in frustration.
The turning point came in 2010 when Dutch coach Ruud Krol led the Buccaneers to their first cup victory in ten years. That same season, the team achieved an extraordinary feat by winning three trophies, breaking the curse and bringing joy back to the “Happy People.”
The following season, Pirates won another treble but then faced three consecutive cup defeats. The curse seemed to resurface, and the Soweto giants found themselves losing finals again.
The final straw for the fans was the Telkom Knockout final against Baroka, where they lost in a penalty shootout.
However, a shift occurred when the curse was broken anew in 2020 with their victory in the MTN8. From 2022 onwards, Orlando Pirates embarked on an impressive run, winning seven trophies and firmly establishing themselves as the cup kings of South African football.