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Pirates claim first win of 2026

football31 January 2026 18:20| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates continued their Betway Premiership title charge with a first victory of 2026, beating Magesi 2-0 at the newly named Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Saturday.

In front of a sold out crowd, the Buccaneers pulled level with Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table, still with one game in hand.

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Relebohile Mofokeng showed his class with a goal and an assist while both Andre de Jong and Daniel Msendami came off the bench for their Pirates debuts after joining from Stellenbosch and Marumo Gallants respectively.

Magesi’s struggle continues as the club remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.

In addition, head coach John Maduka was not on the sideline, with assistant coach Abram Nteo taking the reins, hinting at the coach’s potential departure having managed three wins in 16 games in charge.

The Buccaneers got off to a blistering start, causing chaos straight from kick-off. Relebohile Mofokeng pushed forward and nearly found Oswin Appollis darting into the box, but his pass was slightly overhit and missed his teammate by inches.

In the second minute, Appollis found Tshepang Moremi unmarked just outside the six-yard box, but put his effort wildly over the bar

The Buccaneers took the lead in the ninth minute, as Mofokeng burst into the box once more, cutting the ball back for Yanela Mbuthuma. The striker made no mistake from close range, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

In the 25th minute, Appollis found Mbuthuma in front of goal, but the striker’s headed attempt was kept out by the hands of Elvis Chipezeze.

After assisting the first goal, Mofokeng bagged one of his own to double the hosts lead in the 41st minute, finding the bottom left corner from just outside the area with a well-placed strike.

MISSED CHANCES

Moremi took full advantage on the counter in the 44th minute, cutting onto his left foot on the edge of the area and nearly found the top left corner, but was denied by an outstretched Chipezeze.

The shifty winger was at it again a minute later, slicing through the Magesi defence and into the box, but his attempt to find the open Oppolis at the back post went past his teammate.

Moremi continued to cause problems for the Magesi defence to start the second half. He was denied by Chipezeze from the right side of the box before winning the ball back, and crossing to Mbuthuma. However, his header traveled just left of the target.

In the 56th minute, Oppolis was given too much room at the edge of the area, firing off a strike that narrowly trickled wide of the posts.

Oppolis had another chance to add his name to the scoresheet in the 63rd minute, opting to go himself instead of looking for Moremi or Mbuthuma in the box. He was denied by Chipezeze.

The hosts should have added a third in the 66th minute, as Moremi squared the ball for Andre de Jong, who came on for his Pirates debut.

The New Zealand international could not finish in front of goal, with the ball falling to fellow substitute Masindi Nemtajela, who sent his follow-up attempt wide in a surprising miss.

In the 75th minute, Appollis unleashed substitute Kamogelo Sebelebele down the right side of the box, but Chipezeze proved too difficult to beat yet again.

The hosts missed another golden opportunity on stoppage time. De Jong left the ball in the middle of the box for Nemtajela but he was dispossessed before he could pass to an open teammate in the area.

De Jong came close to a debut goal in the dying moments as Sebelebele flashed a ball across the face of goal but De Jong could not make enough contact to send it into the back of the net.

Pirates will continue their quest for top spot in the Betway Premiership as they face AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday.

Magesi will be looking to change their fortunes against Upington City of the Motsepe Foundation Championship in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium on Saturday.

Orlando Pirates (2) 2 (Mbuthuma 9’, Mofokeng 41’)

Magesi 0

Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, N. Ndaba, N. Sibisi, L. Seema, D. van Rooyen (K. Sebelebele 46’), T. Mbatha (M. Nemtajela 64’), M. Makhaula, R. Mofokeng, T. Moremi (D. Msendami 76’), O. Appollis (P. Maswanganyi 76’), Y. Mbuthuma (A. de Jong 64’)

Magesi: E. Chipezeze, J. Mokone, M. Matima (E. Chirambadare 68’), L. Mokone, T. Makgoga, T. Mashigo (D. Mofokeng 68’), T. Masegela (S. Darpoh 46’), L. Mtshali (L. Mashiane 46’), K. Mosadi, N. Raphadu, M. Vandala (S. Magaqa 68’)

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