Sebelebele Fires Orlando Pirates to Much-Needed Premiership Win
Kamogelo Sebelebele was once again the difference-maker as his long-range strike handed Orlando Pirates their first Betway Premiership victory of the season on Wednesday night at Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers edged Stellenbosch FC 1-0, finally lifting themselves off the bottom of the log after back-to-back defeats in their opening fixtures. The result came as a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s crunch MTN8 semi-final second leg against Mamelodi Sundowns in Atteridgeville.
Sebelebele the Hero Again
Fresh from scoring in the 1-1 semi-final first-leg draw with Sundowns last weekend, Sebelebele continued his fine form, striking in the 15th minute. Picking up a loose ball outside the box, he unleashed a thunderous effort that flew past Sage Stephens into the bottom corner, sending the Ghost into raptures.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, under mounting pressure after a poor league start, opted for key changes. Oswin Appollis replaced Patrick Maswanganyi in the starting XI, allowing Relebohile Mofokeng to slot into the No. 10 role behind Evidence Makgopa. The adjustment brought balance to the side, with Mofokeng pulling the strings in midfield and nearly combining with Appollis for an early breakthrough, only for the latter’s effort to strike the upright.
Although Pirates lost Deano van Rooyen to injury, Sipho Mbule’s introduction stabilized the midfield and allowed the wide players to stretch Stellenbosch’s defence.
A Nervy Second Half
Despite holding the advantage, Ouaddou endured an anxious second half as Pirates squandered chances to kill off the game. Deon Hotto fired wide after a pinpoint long ball from Lebone Seema, while substitutions sparked visible friction between the coach and his bench. Ouaddou was seen questioning the decision to replace Makgopa and Mbatha, underscoring the tense atmosphere in the technical area.
Stellenbosch pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Pirates’ defence held firm to secure a much-needed win their first in the 2025/26 league campaign.
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The victory not only eases the pressure on Ouaddou but also injects confidence into the squad ahead of their decisive MTN8 clash with Sundowns this weekend. For now, Sebelebele’s stunning strike ensures the Sea Robbers finally have lift-off in the league.
In Durban, AmaZulu claimed a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants at the Princess Magogo Stadium. Despite dominating possession, Gallants were undone by a Keegan Allen free-kick deep into first-half stoppage time.
