How Orlando Pirates Can End Sundowns’ Reign at the Top

Rethabile Nyelele8 August , 2025

Mamelodi Sundowns have ruled domestic football with an iron grip, setting the benchmark for dominance by consistently finishing seasons with 70 points or more. For Orlando Pirates, the mission to dethrone the Tshwane giants in the Betway Premiership is daunting, but not impossible.

Former Buccaneers captain Lucky Lekgwathi believes the Sea Robbers have what it takes to finally disrupt the dominance of Rhulani Mokwena’s side, provided they correct past mistakes and stay consistent throughout the season.

Matching Sundowns’ Ruthless Efficiency

The numbers don’t lie. Pirates finished a distant 12 points behind Sundowns last season and 23 points behind the campaign before that. While they’ve shown promise under coach José Riveiro, they’ve yet to produce a sustained title challenge.

Lekgwathi, a club legend and known for his leadership on the pitch, points out that Pirates’ biggest issue hasn’t been the top-of-the-table clashes but rather dropping points against teams they were expected to beat.

“Winning the league isn’t about only beating your direct rivals. It’s about not slipping against the so-called smaller teams,” Lekgwathi told Soccer Laduma. “Those are the games that make the difference. Pirates need to learn from past seasons where they’ve dropped points unnecessarily.”

Learning From Painful Lessons

Lekgwathi believes the Buccaneers have the structure to go toe-to-toe with Sundowns but need to be ruthless against the league’s strugglers, something Masandawana have mastered.

“We’ve seen Pirates falter in fixtures they were expected to win, and that’s where Sundowns have been clinical. They don’t underestimate any opponent,” he added.

The Buccaneers’ former skipper is hopeful the team has reflected on last season’s shortcomings. With a deeper squad and renewed focus, the coming campaign could be the turning point for the Soweto giants.

Orlando Pirates Squad Depth Gives Hope

Pirates’ off-season preparations, including a pre-season tour in Spain, have been promising. Lekgwathi was particularly impressed by the level of competition within the squad.

“There’s a lot of healthy competition. You have three or four quality players in each position. That’s something we didn’t always have in the past,” he said. “Last season, injuries were a big setback. If the team stays injury-free, they can seriously challenge for everything.”

With a revamped squad and several new signings, Riveiro will be looking to rotate efficiently and keep his squad fresh over a gruelling league and cup schedule.

Stability Off the Pitch

Another key factor that could tilt the title race is Pirates’ growing stability at boardroom level. Lekgwathi praised the leadership behind the scenes for giving the technical team the tools they need to succeed.

“The leadership must be credited. They’ve created an environment where players can compete, grow and deliver. With that kind of support, you have to aim for the title,” he said.

The Pirates faithful will be hoping that their club can replicate Sundowns’ consistency, especially in terms of points accumulation and handling pressure in the final stretch of the season.

The Journey Begins Now

Orlando Pirates kick off their Betway Premiership campaign at home this Saturday, facing Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium. A strong start is essential to build early momentum, and the team will be under pressure to immediately show they’ve grown from past inconsistencies.

With the right blend of talent, depth, and mental toughness, Pirates can pose a real threat to Sundowns’ throne. But as Lekgwathi rightly pointed out, the road to the title runs through the so-called “easy games”.