Pirates Back on Top

Orlando Pirates have officially returned to the summit of the Betway Premiership following a commanding 3–0 victory over AmaZulu at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 18 April. The win marks a significant turning point in the title race, as the Buccaneers leapfrog Mamelodi Sundowns to secure the number one position.

Striker Yanela Mbuthuma opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by a strike from Oswin Appollis just before the break. Relebohile Mofokeng sealed the result in the 58th minute with a spectacular effort, further cementing his status as one of the league’s standout performers this season.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised the team’s discipline but remained focussed on the work ahead. Speaking after the final whistle, Ouaddou remarked, “We showed great character today to take our chances, but the league is a marathon, not a sprint.”

With only a handful of games remaining in the 2025/26 campaign, Pirates now sit on 58 points. While Sundowns still possess games in hand, and with 56 points, the pressure has shifted to the defending champions to respond. The Buccaneers’ next major hurdle is the highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, 26 April.