The Bucs have stormed to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership title, finally ending Mamelodi Sundowns' long dominance of South African football and sparking celebrations among supporters across the country.

We look at how Pirates ended their title drought to reclaim the league crown after a gripping season-long race.

Impressive Transfer activity

The Buccaneers made a host of signings ahead of the new season, with Oswin Appolis and Sipho Mbule headlining the incoming batch of players.

Pirates also surprisingly sold young prospect Mohau Nkota before the season began and later star defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi midway through the campaign, but had adequate replacements for the departed pair.

Bucs' new signings proved to be shrewd replacements, with Tshepang Moremi, Lebone Seema and Masindi Nemtajela slotting in effortlessly into the Bucs regime under then new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Appollis in particular, has been excellent, leading the club with goal contributions in his first season to help win three domestic trophies since the 2010/2011 and 2011/12 campaigns.

Abdeslam Ouaddou's influence and bravery

The Moroccan head coach had a shaky start to the season with consecutive losses in his opening two matches before his side started to take shape, going on to make history with an eight-game winning streak to launch their title hopes.

Ouaddou showed no lack of bravery during the campaign, memorably benching marquee signing Appollis against Chippa United, only for the winger to score as a substitute to give Bucs a 2-0 win.

He also surprised many by starting Dansen in the 1-1 draw against Sundowns in November last year, with the youngster repaying the coaches' faith with a stunning volley equalizer.

His most popular decision has to be deploying Relebohile Mofokeng in the famous "number-ten" role instead of a winger, which saw the Bafana Bafana attacker start to score goals, including a hat-trick in the 6-0 rout of TS Galaxy in March.

Better quality in squad depth

The club managed to acquire quality replacements for stars in key positions, allowing them to rotate players where necessary, with injuries to key stars Thalente Mbatha and Sihle Nduli being well covered by other players.

The team's depth meant they could afford to part ways with Tshegofatso Mabasa [loan], Monnapule Saleng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Olisa Ndah during the season, underlying the strength of the footballers in the current squad.

In the latter part of the campaign, coach Ouaddou has even been able to bench Bafana Bafana internationals Evidence Makgopa and Sipho Mbule while still managing to get the required results to win the Betway Premiership title.

Solid defense and accurate attack

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine broke the record for the most clean sheets in a PSL season after surpassing Mamelodi Sundowns star Ronwen Williams previous leading total of 18, proving their defensive unit to be barely impenetrable.

Nine different players have contributed with goals for the Soweto giants during their successful campaign, including some stunning goals from defenders Mbokazi and Lebone.

The improved finishing in attack has seen the club surpass last season's final tally by more than ten goals whilst conceding less at the back, ensuring they got the points and superior goal difference required to win the coveted league title.

Less congested fixture schedule

Orlando Pirates suffered a shock 2025/26 CAF Champions League second preliminary round exit against Congolese side FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo on penalties.

However, this meant that the rebuffed squad would play fewer matches and travel locally for fixtures rather than title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, who had progressed to the group stages of the continental competition.

The 35-man Bucs squad could afford itself more recovery time between fixtures, allowing injured players to be eased back into action, like midfielder Makhehleni Makhaula.

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