Orlando Pirates supporters were left furious after captain Nkosinathi Sibisi missed a crucial penalty in their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 defeat to Casric Stars.
The Buccaneers were knocked out 5-4 on penalties by the ABC Motsepe Championship side following a dramatic shootout.
Bhodlela stepped up first for Pirates but failed to convert, immediately putting his teammates under pressure.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine kept Pirates’ hopes alive when he saved Casric’s final regulation penalty to force sudden death. However, Nkosinathi Ndaba missed his spot kick, and Casric made no mistake with theirs to seal a famous upset.
Sibisi blamed for Pirates cup exit
The victory sent a strong warning to other PSL heavyweights about the threat Casric Stars could pose in the next round.
For Pirates, meanwhile, questions are beginning to mount. After a promising start to 2026, signs of inconsistency are starting to creep in. This marks the first time the Soweto giants have been eliminated from a cup competition since 2024, when they lost to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout Cup.
Frustrated Pirates supporters quickly took to social media platform X to vent their anger, with captain Sibisi bearing the brunt of the criticism.
@Ndingum__Afrika wrote: “Sibisi is the weakest captain Pirates ever had in history.”
@DineoManamela1 added: “I don’t want to ever see Nkosinathi Sibisi wearing that armband!!”
Another supporter, @Tsibink1, blamed both the captain and the technical team: “Ouaddou needs to select a starting 11 instead of constantly experimenting. The last two defeats are on him and the technical team. Sibisi needs to rest because defensively, he’s currently our weakest link.”
@City_of_Pirates also expressed concern ahead of the upcoming derby: “If we go to the Derby without Mbatha or at least Sihle Nduli, we’re getting cooked. Oh, and Wadu must keep Sibisi far away from that match.”
The criticism comes just days after Pirates’ 2-1 league defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, with some fans calling on the coach to drop Sibisi.
Supporters believe Bhodlela is not showing enough leadership at a crucial stage of the season, especially with the club still fighting for league honours.