How the Orlando Pirates Came to Be

The Humble Beginnings (1937)

• The club was founded in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto. It didn’t start as a professional giant, but rather as a recreational group called the Orlando Boys Club.
• The founders were primarily the offspring of migrant workers who had moved to the gold mines of Gauteng. These teenagers gathered in open spaces and dusty streets to play football whenever they could.

The “Founding Fathers”

Two key figures are credited with grooming this raw talent into a structured club:

• Andries “Pele Pele” Mkhwanazi: A boxing instructor at the Orlando Boys Club who encouraged the boys to form a formal football team.
• Bethuel Mokgosinyana: The club’s first president. He was so dedicated that he used his own personal funds to buy the team’s very first kit in 1940. His home in Orlando East became the official headquarters where the team camped before matches.

How They Got the Name “Pirates”

In the early 1940s, the team was still known as the Orlando Boys. The shift to “Pirates” came from two specific inspirations:

• The Movie: The name was inspired by the 1940 film The Sea Hawk, starring Errol Flynn, which featured a band of daring pirates.
• The Suggestion: A key member of the team, Andrew Bassie, officially suggested the name “Orlando Pirates” to reflect the “bold and fierce spirit” the boys showed on the pitch.

Defining Traditions

• The Colours: Bethuel Mokgosinyana is credited with choosing the iconic Black and White kit, symbolising “Black power and White peace,” though it later evolved into the “Buccaneer” aesthetic we know today.
• The War Cry: The team composed their famous war cry, Ezimnyama Ngenkani (The Black Ones, by Force), which is still used by “The Ghost” (the fans) today.
• The First Promotion: By 1944, the boys had grown from playing barefoot in the “minor” leagues to winning the Division Two title and gaining promotion to Division One.

The Professional Shift (1971–1976)

When the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) was formed, Pirates entered their first true “Golden Era.” They were the kings of the early 70s, winning the league title in 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976.

• The 1973 Grand Slam: Pirates became the first club to win all available trophies in a single season (the League, the Life Challenge Cup, and the BP Top 8).
• The “Black Prince”: This era was dominated by Jomo Sono, perhaps the greatest player in the club’s history. He was so influential that he famously left his own wedding in 1976 to help Pirates come from 2–0 down to beat Highlands Park 4–3.

The “Mutiny” and the Birth of a Rival (1970)

The most significant moment in their modern history happened just as they turned professional. In late 1969, internal infighting led to the expulsion of three key players (Ratha Mokgoatlheng, Msomi Khoza, and Zero Johnson) and manager Ewert Nene.

• The Split: Kaizer Motaung, returning from playing for the Atlanta Chiefs in the USA, tried to mediate the dispute. When he failed, he joined the expelled group to form a touring side called the “Kaizer XI.”
• The Result: On January 7, 1970, that touring side officially became Kaizer Chiefs. This “mutiny” created the Soweto Derby, as the former teammates became bitter rivals overnight.

By the 1980s, the “ship” was steadied, and they eventually became the first South African club to win the CAF Champions League in 1995.