Also known as: Orlando Pirates FC · the Pirates
Orlando Pirates — South African Premiership Soccer League club that won the 2026 title under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, with Namibian forward Deon Hotto.
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New 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 FredericksThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates will compete in Katutura Derby against Black Africa in SSFD
“The new SSFD season will feature the much anticipated revival of the Katutura Derby between archrivals Black Africa and Orlando Pirates, with the once heralded clubs relegated from the country's top tier league.”
Southern stream AGM deferred over financesThe Namibian
Orlando Pirates will play Mighty Gunners at SKW Stadium on Saturday
Deon Hotto scored the decisive goal in Orlando Pirates' 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, earning him Man of the Match and N$8,000. Pirates will host the second leg on 29 August with a place in the final at stake.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Deon Hotto scored the decisive goal in Orlando Pirates' 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, earning him Man of the Match and N$8,000. Pirates will host the second leg on 29 August with a place in the final at stake.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Former SKW FC player of the year Marco van Wyk won multiple domestic competitions with Black Africa as a midfielder-striker but rarely played full matches for Namibia's national team, citing competition from players in South African professional leagues and timing as factors.
7 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian international Peter Shalulile has signed with Tanzanian champions Young Africans as a free agent after six years at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he scored 136 goals across all competitions and won multiple PSL titles and the CAF Champions League.
29 July 2026 · New Era →
Veteran forward Stella Williams has retired from football after a career marked by leadership and passion for the game. Her final playing chapter was with Mighty Gunners Ladies FC, where she guided younger players and provided stability to the team.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
Hugo Broos has confirmed his exit as South Africa's national football coach after the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Multiple candidates, including Pitso Mosimane, have applied to succeed him, though the football federation may retain Broos in an advisory capacity.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Analyst Isack Hamata views Namibian striker Peter Shalulile's departure from Mamelodi Sundowns as a natural evolution driven by squad competition and tactical changes under a new technical team, rather than a forced exit, allowing the player to seek projects suited to his strengths.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Mike Awaseb, a prominent pre-independence defender for Black Africa, was initially recruited from Pirates as a midfielder before being converted to a defender by coach Herman 'Pele' Bashcke. The switch earned him a place on Black Africa's dominant team, though it cost him his family home after his father, a Pirates supporter, gave him an ultimatum to leave.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian international Peter Shalulile has parted ways with Mamelodi Sundowns after his contract expired on 30 June, ending a six-year spell at the South African club. The 32-year-old striker leaves as one of the club's greatest forwards, having won multiple Premiership titles and domestic trophies since arriving from Highlands Park in 2020.
2 July 2026 · New Era →
Coach Hugo Broos's South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to finish second in Group A and qualify for the World Cup knockout phase for the first time, ahead of a last-32 match against Canada in Los Angeles.
27 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Rusten Sukhile Mogane, a retired Black Africa midfield playmaker and Brave Warriors coach, reflects on his career highlights including leading Black Africa to cup victories and being selected for the South West Africa Currie Cup team at age 17 while still a pupil at Augustineum High School.
19 June 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 →