Orlando Pirates’ exceptional defensive record will be put under its greatest pressure this season when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (18:00).
Pirates have conceded only one goal in seven league matches this season. Across 28 games in 2025, they allowed eight goals, underlining the consistency of a defence that has become central to their campaign.
Former Pirates defender Edward “Magents” Motale believes the improvement is largely the result of discipline introduced by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. The Moroccan played as a defender during his career and represented several leading European clubs, including Olympiacos and Fulham.
“Coach Ouaddou has instilled discipline in this team. With discipline, it’s very hard to concede. He was a defender in his playing days, so he hates conceding, and that has rubbed off on the players,” Motale told Sowetan yesterday.
“These days, Pirates defenders hardly get yellow cards, and that tells you how disciplined this team is.”
Motale also highlighted the work of Pirates’ scouting department, saying the club had identified defenders who fitted naturally into the team. He pointed to Lebone Seema and Sibangani Zulu as examples of what he described as “proper scouting”.
“Look at Seema; he’s being brilliant, and when he was still at TS Galaxy, only a few people noticed him. He’s been paired with [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi [before he was sold to Chicago Fire last December], Sibisi and Zulu [who joined from Richards Bay before this season started] of late, but he’s hardly put a foot wrong,” Motale said.
“Zulu has hit the ground running… he’s done well playing with Seema at the heart of defence when Sibisi was absent. So, the way Pirates have scouted these players must also be applauded.”
Pirates won the league title for the first time in 14 years last season, and Motale believes their defensive solidity could help them retain it.
“If you don’t concede, you win a lot of games, so I really think this solid defence will help the club retain the league title,” he said. “It [being solid at the back] also gives confidence to strikers to do their job up front.”
Sundowns are the last side to defeat Pirates, winning 2-1 in a league match at FNB Stadium in February. Saturday’s final therefore offers the strongest test yet of the Bucs defence.
Fewest goals conceded in PSL history at the end of the season
– 2003/04 and 2023/24: Chiefs and Sundowns, 11 each
– 2025/26: Pirates, 12
– 2022/23: Sundowns, 13
– 2014/15, 2020/21 and 2024/25: Chiefs and Sundowns, 14 each, with the latter figure achieved in the two latest seasons
– 2002/03: Pirates, 16
