Also known as: Orlando Pirates FC · the Pirates
South African Premiership club that won their first league title in 14 years in May 2026, ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-year winning streak.
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The Namibian
Orlando Pirates missed a chance to reclaim first place in the South African Premiership
“Orlando Pirates missed a chance to reclaim first place in the South African Premiership on Friday but salvaged a late 2-2 draw at mid-table Richards Bay.”
Pirates miss chance to regain top spot in South AfricaThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates FC face downgrade following poor run in Southern Stream Division
“Orlando Pirates FC now face another downgrade following their poor run in the Namibia Football Association Southern Stream Division.”
Orlando Pirates face downgradeThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates FC are seated at bottom of first division log with 13 points
“Seated at the bottom of the first division log with a mere 13 points, Orlando Pirates FC will face equally troubled Blue Boys FC, who are languishing on the verge of the division's relegation zone with 16 points.”
Orlando Pirates face downgradeNew Era
Orlando Pirates hammered Namib Woestyn by four unanswered goals in the Yoko Tea Cup final
“He was in the starting lineup when the rejuvenated Pirates hammered pre-tournament favourites Namib Woestyn by four (4) unanswered goals in the rescheduled final of the annual Yoko Tea Cup, at the old Katutura stadium B-field.”
Tales of the Legends – Meet football’s forgotten man, ‘Jackal Trap’ John AwarabThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates are South African Premiership leaders with 41 points from 18 matches
“The top two both have 41 points from 18 matches with Pirates occupying first place because they have a plus-22 goal difference and Sundowns a plus-21.”
Rayners brace brings Sundowns level with leaders PiratesNew Era
Orlando Pirates will compete in Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium
“Chiefs, one of the country's most decorated football institutions, will renew their fierce rivalry with Pirates in a sold-out showdown at the iconic FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.”
MTC eSIM winners set for Soweto derby experienceThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates was turned into title-challenging side by chairman Hendrick Davids
“Davids, who revolutionised Namibian football with his management style, took over a struggling Pirates and turned them into a title-challenging side again.”
Wasserfall: The Pirates project and life after footballNew Era
Orlando Pirates edged Ramblers FC 1–0
“In another weekend action, Orlando Pirates edged Ramblers FC 1–0 in Windhoek, while at the coast Celtic FC secured a 1–0 win over Blue Boys.”
Try Again FC targets top spot … wants to restore southern prideThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates got relegated to the Southern Stream First Division in 2024
“The popular black-and-white club got relegated to the Southern Stream First Division (SSFD) in 2024 and has since struggled to dominate the lower first division, with competition from the likes of Mariental Sport Club, Try Again and Friends FC equally fighting for dominance to eventually lift the title.”
Pirates plot new course to top flightThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates reached the summit of the 2007-08 season under Hendrick Davids
“Fredericks followed several Civics players who joined Orlando Pirates the following season to be part of Hendrick Davids ambitious project that propelled the Katutura Buccaneers to the summit of the 2007-08 season, handing the forward his second consecutive league title.”
Fame doesn't last – Eusebio FredericksNamibian forward Deon Hotto won his first South African Premiership Soccer League title as Orlando Pirates defeated Orbit College FC 2-0 on the final day of the season, marking the club's first league championship in 14 years and ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-year winning streak.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian forward Deon Hotto won his first South African Premiership Soccer League title as Orlando Pirates defeated Orbit College FC 2-0 on the final day of the season, marking the club's first league championship in 14 years and ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-year winning streak.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Orlando Pirates defeated Orbit College 2-0 through two own goals to win the South African Premiership, ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-season dominance and claiming their first title since 2012. The victory completed a domestic treble for Pirates under Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
23 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Mamelodi Sundowns defend a 1-0 lead over Moroccan hosts FAR Rabat in the CAF Champions League final second leg on Sunday, with the aggregate winners earning a record $6 million plus qualification to the 2029 Club World Cup with a minimum $9.5 million payout.
23 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Johannes 'Kumi' Umati, a former Tigers and South West Africa player renowned for his defensive skill and fighting spirit, died in the capital on Tuesday. His death comes weeks after Tigers were relegated from the premiership and shortly after the death of another football great, Hans 'Alu' Hummel.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Orlando Pirates drew 0-0 at home against Durban City and must win their final match to end a 14-year wait for the South African Premiership title, currently two points behind defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
16 May 2026 · The Namibian →
TS Galaxy defeated leaders Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 on Tuesday, a result that makes Orlando Pirates favourites to win the South African Premiership for the first time since 2012. Pirates have 65 points with two matches remaining and a superior goal difference over Sundowns, who finished with 68 points from 30 matches.
13 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Polokwane City 3-0 on Sunday, with Iqraam Rayners among the scorers, stretching their South African Premiership lead to five points with three matches remaining. Sundowns have 64 points and Orlando Pirates have 59 with a game in hand.
3 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Orlando Pirates defeated AmaZulu 3-0 to reclaim top spot in the South African Premiership with 58 points and five matches remaining, two points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand. The two clubs have been locked in a season-long battle for the title, with Pirates seeking their first championship since 2012.
19 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tigers FC, Rundu Chiefs FC, and Life Fighters have been relegated from Namibia's Premier Football League and say they will return stronger. The team heads cited challenges including internal conflict, management issues, and referee decisions, but expressed confidence in rebuilding and regaining their elite status.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Southern Stream First Division leaders Mariental SC lost twice in one weekend—2-1 to Try Again FC and 1-0 to Dates Eleven—but remain top of the log with 38 points. Head coach Marvin Mbakera said the defeats test the team's character but the club will respond positively, emphasizing that the title race is far from over.
15 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibian winger Deon Hotto is leading the South African Premier Division assist standings with eight, while playing as a left-back for Orlando Pirates. The 35-year-old has featured in 19 of the club's 24 league matches and has also scored one goal this season.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tigers Sport Club, founded in 1927, is mathematically unable to escape the Namibia Premier Football League drop zone following a 3–2 defeat to Eleven Arrows, marking the club's first-ever relegation in its 99th year. The club's fall reflects a broader decline of traditional powerhouses in Namibian football, attributed by analysts to failure to adapt to modern football demands and compounded by recruitment, discipline, and administrative issues.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 with Richards Bay on Friday, missing an opportunity to reclaim first place in the South African Premiership. Mamelodi Sundowns remain top with 56 points, one ahead of Pirates who have 55 from one more match.
11 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Orlando Pirates FC, a formerly well-supported Namibian football club, now face potential demotion to the NFA's second division after poor performance in the Southern Stream Division's first division, where they sit at the bottom with 13 points.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Issascar !Goaseb, a formidable midfielder who shaped Namibian football in the 1960s and 1970s through his time with Etosha Lions and Santos, has died at age 78. A native of Otjiwarongo, he was remembered as a tireless, competitive player and educator whose career intertwined with iconic moments in the country's sporting history.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
New Era profiles John Awarab, a long-serving fullback for Orlando Pirates who is remembered as a defensive cornerstone and Pirates legend. The article chronicles his nearly decade-long career, including a notable performance in the Yoko Tea Cup final, and his later years as squad depth before retirement in his late 30s.
27 March 2026 · New Era →
Hardap region's football team is preparing with a new generation of players to compete in the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, their first major tournament push since finishing runners-up in past competitions. Coach Christi Guruseb says the team is training intensively and focused on improving their own performance despite facing tough opponents in group A.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's sport calendar is filled with Namibia Premier Football League matches nearing conclusion with crucial title and relegation battles, 50-over cricket semifinals and final, and matches in indoor hockey and volleyball across multiple venues throughout the country.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Brave Warriors goalkeeper Virgil Vries, one of only three post-independence Namibian players to join South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, credits hard work, patience, discipline and consistency for his career achievements. He emphasises the importance of focusing on one's own journey rather than competing or comparing oneself with others, and now works in goalkeeper development at clubs in South Africa.
6 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Iqraam Rayners scored twice off the bench as Mamelodi Sundowns beat Sekhukhune United 3-1 to draw level with South African Premiership leaders Orlando Pirates on 41 points, separated only by goal difference.
2 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Six Namibian participants and sports journalist Marco Ndlovu won all-expenses-paid trips to South Africa to attend the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, after entering an MTC eSIM promotion draw.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
Snewe Uanguraije Katjirua, a student at Jan Möhr Secondary School, is developing as a left back for Bucks Buccaneers in the Namibia Premier Football League after progressing through youth football in Swakopmund and winning titles with CBS Talents. His ambitions include playing for South Africa's Orlando Pirates and representing Namibia's senior national team at the FIFA World Cup.
19 February 2026 · New Era →
Three-time Namibian Premier League winner Celestinus Wasserfall, who played for Chief Santos, Blue Waters and Orlando Pirates, has spent the past 15 years working as a heavy equipment operator at Namibian Ports Authority after a knee injury ended his playing career. Despite not realising his ambition to play professional football in Germany, Wasserfall says he is content with his secure job and life after football.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Keetmanshoop-based Try Again FC is targeting the top of the Southern Stream First Division League to secure promotion to the Namibia Premier Football League. Currently on 14 points, one behind leaders Mariental Sports Club, the team's manager said the club hopes to develop youth from disadvantaged backgrounds and restore the region's football pride.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibian Premier Football League strikers are delivering goals at remarkable consistency this season, with Bernard Horaseb and Junior Petrus leading with seven joint goals each, while teenage sensation Jonas Michael (18) continues to impress despite self-doubt. The competition intensifies as Round 17 and 18 continue this weekend.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Orlando Pirates official Mabos Ortman has outlined a comprehensive restructuring and recruitment strategy aimed at securing the club's promotion back to the Namibian premier league after relegation to the Southern Stream First Division in 2024. The club plans to target experienced players with premier league experience, particularly in midfield and striking, while also restructuring as a member-based organisation and rebranding, with league play resuming in February 2026.
30 January 2026 · The Namibian →