Orlando Pirates were officially crowned 2025/26 Betway Premiership champions after securing a 2-0 victory over Orbit College at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both goals came through Orbit College own goals, with N. Ngiba putting the ball into his own net just before the halftime break, while Sabelo Calvin Nkomo added a second own goal few minutes into the second half later.
The victory sealed Pirates’ first league title in 14 years after a dominant campaign under head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The match also saw Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine make PSL history after recording his 21st clean sheet of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season, the most clean sheets ever achieved by a goalkeeper in a single PSL campaign.
Speaking after the title-clinching victory, Ouaddou praised the vision and leadership at the club, saying Pirates were always destined to compete at the highest level in Africa.
Pirates are in very good hands with professional people who understand football, how to manage a club and how to lead a football institution. The project started years ago and they know exactly where they want to go.”
The coach also admitted the season tested his young squad mentally, despite their impressive performances throughout the campaign.
With the amount of chances we created and the quality of football we produced, honestly we could have wrapped up the title weeks ago. But sometimes we did not manage emotions well enough.”
Ouaddou further opened up about the intense pressure that comes with leading one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
To lead Pirates is not easy. Social media becomes a ‘popular court’ where people judge you without seeing the work happening behind the scenes. You need mental strength and energy to handle that pressure.”
He revealed that after losing his first two matches in charge, he even offered to resign, but club management stood firmly behind him.
I am an honest man. I do this job for passion, not for money. After those defeats I offered my resignation, but the management trusted the process and supported me.”
Meanwhile, the defeat confirmed Orbit College’s automatic relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship after just one season in the top flight.
Orbit College head coach Pogiso Makhoye remained defiant despite the disappointment, saying
We will bounce back.”
Images: By Orlando Pirates