“Not A Fluke”: Lungu Issues Strong Title Warning After Hitting Ground Running At Pirates
Orlando Pirates winger Gamphani Lungu has opened up about his move to the Buccaneers, revealing how joining one of South Africa’s biggest clubs gave him a major boost.
The Zambia international joined Pirates from Siwelele ahead of the 2026/27 season after spending the previous campaign with the Bloemfontein-based club.
While moving to a club of Pirates’ stature could have brought added pressure, Lungu believes his experience in the domestic game, coupled with his familiarity with several players in the squad, helped him settle into his new surroundings.
“It wasn’t really a surprise, but it was a boost to know that a big club was talking to me and wanting me to add to their club,” Lungu told Orlandopiratesfc.com.
“It was a really good thing. It really felt good.
“I’ve been in the league for the past eight years. I know most of the players. Even some of the players that are here, I’ve played with some of them back at SuperSport United and stuff like that.
“The players I came with from Siwelele are also here. That’s why I think I could adapt easily. I think the experience of being in the whole football industry has played a big part in it.”
The wingback has already made his presence felt on the pitch, playing a key role in Pirates’ MTN8 campaign. In the quarter-final against Durban City, Lungu scored the decisive goal late in extra time to send the Buccaneers into the semi-finals.
He also scored when Pirates defeated Chippa United 3-0 in Durban this past weekend.
The 27-year-old will now be hoping to make another contribution when Pirates face Sekhukhune United in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Victory over Sekhukhune would send Pirates into the MTN8 final for the fifth consecutive season, extending their remarkable dominance in the competition. The Buccaneers have won the tournament in each of the previous four seasons.
Both José Riveiro and current head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou also won the MTN8 in their first seasons in charge of Pirates, underlining the club’s impressive record in the competition.
While Lungu’s immediate focus is on helping Pirates continue their pursuit of domestic silverware, the winger has also set his sights on achieving success on the continental stage.
Pirates won the Betway Premiership, Carling Knockout and MTN8 last season to complete a domestic treble. However, their CAF Champions League campaign ended in disappointment after they were eliminated in the second preliminary round without reaching the group stage.
Having arrived at Pirates following that treble-winning campaign, Lungu wants the club to prove that last season’s success was not simply a one-off.
“They should expect us to fight for the title,” he added.
“You know, with winning something once, people will say it’s a fluke and whatever. We want to win it again so that we can say the first time wasn’t a fluke.
“It’s something that needs to be in our DNA. For the fans, we would like to go as far as possible, even in the CAF competition (Champions League).
“We want to win it; we want to win the league. I want to win everything this season with this team, and I believe that we can if we just keep working and pushing together.”
