Orlando Pirates began their defense of the South African Premiership title with a 2-0 victory over Milford in Soweto on Saturday, August 2, 2026. Both goals were scored by South African internationals, Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi, showcasing the team's depth and skill. The Buccaneers, as Pirates are affectionately known, secured their first league title in 14 years last season, edging out Mamelodi Sundowns by a single point.
Match Details
Appollis opened the scoring in the 24th minute when his free-kick, taken just outside the penalty area, was deflected past Milford's goalkeeper, Siphamandla Hleza. The Buccaneers' dominance continued throughout the match, though coach Abdeslam Ouaddou noted that his team could have scored more. 'I expected more given our domination. We had sufficient chances in the opening half to seal victory by half-time,' said Ouaddou.
Moremi sealed the win with a goal in the 85th minute, rounding Hleza and placing the ball into the net. The victory came despite some players' fatigue from the recent World Cup, where Pirates had eight players in the South African squad. Ouaddou acknowledged this factor, stating, 'Some of our players were a little tired after the World Cup.'
Other Results
In another match on Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs also secured a victory, winning 3-1 against Kruger United, who were also promoted to the top flight. Substitute Wandile Duba scored twice in the match held in Mbombela.
