South African football giants Orlando Pirates have been crowned champions of the South African top-flight league for the first time in 14 years after a dramatic final-day victory over Orbit College on Saturday.
The Soweto-based side secured a 2-0 win in Nelspruit, with two own goals proving decisive as Pirates claimed the crucial victory needed to clinch the title ahead of rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates finished the season on 69 points, one point clear of Sundowns, who had completed their league campaign earlier with 68 points.
The triumph also brought an end to Sundowns’ remarkable dominance of South African football, having won the league title in each of the previous eight seasons.
The title success marks a major achievement for Orlando Pirates, one of South Africa’s oldest and most decorated clubs, whose supporters have waited more than a decade to celebrate another league crown.
The team was guided to glory by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the former Fulham and Morocco central defender, in what was his first full season as a club head coach.
Ouaddou’s leadership played a key role in Pirates’ impressive campaign as they maintained composure under pressure during the title race.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns will now shift focus to continental football as they prepare for the African Champions League final on Sunday following the disappointment of losing their domestic crown.
Orlando Pirates’ title triumph is expected to spark celebrations across Soweto and among their massive fan base worldwide, as the club returns to the summit of South African football after a long wait.
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