Pirates get first win of the season
Kamogelo Sebelebele of Orlando Pirates celebrates goal during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 match between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto on 20 August 2025 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
By Benjamin Nyirenda at Orlando Stadium
Pirates (1) 1 Stellenbonch (0) 0
Orlando Pirates secured their first win of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season after beating Stellenbosch FC 1-0 at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made one change from the draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8, with Oswin Appollis returning to the squad in place of Patrick Maswanganyi who dropped to the bench.
Appollis almost scored the fifth minute into the game but the winger hit the upright with his powerful strike with goalkeeper Sage Stephens well-beaten.
The hosts got their reward on 15 minutes when Kamogelo Sebelebele made it two goals in two games with a wonderful strike from distance, which sailed into the top corner.
The hosts were forced to make a change soon after the goal as Deano van Rooyen was stretchered off with an injury, as Sipho Mbule was brought on as his replacement, with Sebelebele moving to the right-back position.
Stellenbosch, meanwhile, struggled to get their attackers in the game as Mojela and Devin Titus barely got a sniff of the ball in the opposition’s 18-yard area.
The Buccaneers should have doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half when Deon Hotto was sent through on goal by Seema but with only Stephens to beat, the Namibian dragged his effort horribly wide of the target.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker responded with a quadruple change thereafter as Thato Khiba, Andre De Jong, Langelihle Phili and Khomotjo Lekoloane replaced Chumani Butsaka, Mojela, Titus and Lesiba Nku for the final 30 minutes.
Stellenbosch iincrease the tempo in search of the equaliser as they went close to pulling level in the 75th minute when Lekoloane unleashed a powerful strike from distance that forced Chaine into a fine save.
That proved to be Stellenbosch’s final chance as the Soweto giants remained strong at the back to hold out for their first league win while the visitors remain without a win.
Line ups:
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 3. Van Rooyen, 33. Seema, 44. Mbokazi, 7. Hotto, 30. Nduli, 16. Mbatha, 36. Sebelebele, 38. Mofokeng, 12. Appollis, 17. Makgopa
Subs: 40. Dladla, 32. Mariko, 28. Maswanganyi, 27. Xoki, 23. Mbule, 11. Moremi, 9. Mabasa, 3. Ndaba
Stellenbosch FC: 17. Stephens, 14. Nkwali, 24. Moloisane, 4. Stanic, 3. Mdaka, 33. Butsaka, 27. Jabaar, 7. Nku, Mthiyani, 34. Titus, 10. Mojela
Subs: 30. Masuluke, 26. Mcaba, 15. Khanyi, 12. Khiba, 8. Lekoloane, 11. Phili, 29. Mokobodi, 28. Palace, 14. De Jong