Orlando Pirates are now one victory away from potentially ending one of the longest Betway Premiership title droughts in the club’s modern history. The Buccaneers host Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, knowing the championship door has suddenly swung wide open after Mamelodi Sundowns stumbled at the finish line. Sundowns suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy in Mbombela, a result that froze the Brazilians on 68 points after completing their league campaign. It was the kind of collapse nobody saw coming. For weeks, the title looked destined to remain in Tshwane yet again.
Few people understand the weight of expectation at the Buccaneers better than club legend Happy Jele. He spent 16 years wearing the black and white jersey, becoming the most capped player in Orlando Pirates history after surpassing Nigerian goalkeeper William Okpara’s long-standing record, finishing with 401 appearances. His trophy cabinet reflects that golden period, with back-to-back league titles in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, along with two Nedbank Cups, two MTN8 trophies, and a Telkom Knockout title. “All I can say is, the previous talk when we talked, both of us, I said it’s up to the players, up to Orlando Pirates to take this league. Yesterday’s results also show that it’s up to them,” Jele told Soccer Laduma. “If they get the last three points, they are crowned champions of the Premier League. It’s been a while for Orlando Pirates to lift this trophy. I think now it’s very possible.”
Jele also warned that the final hurdle could become the most difficult one mentally. “They just need to put in more extra work in the last game. I would say the last game because every game is a cup game for them. In this last game that is coming on the weekend, they need to put