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Football DStv Premiership Orlando Pirates

Pirates Honour Their Previous Hero

  • July 23, 2024
  • 2 min read
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Pirates Honour Their Previous Hero

Orlando Pirates hopes the spirit and legacy of one of Bucs’ founding members James “Sofasonke” Mpanza will help be more successful ahead of the 2024/25 Premier Soccer League campaign. 

This is after the Buccaneers and the technical sponsors Adidas launched the team’s new jersey for the upcoming season, with the name Mpanza embedded at the back of the jersey. 

Mpanza, who was affectionately known as the ‘father of Soweto’ was instrumental in the forming of the Sea Robbers back in 1937. 

With four trophies (MTN8 x2, Nedbank Cup x2) in the last two seasons, Makhehlene Makhaula believes this is the perfect season for Pirates to achieve more in honour of Mpanza.  

“It is really a huge privilege to go into the new season with the new jersey bearing the name of one of the most important people in the club’s history. I really think it is great that the club decided to honour him and we as players understand the role that he (Mpanza) played in helping Pirates to become what it is today,” said the talented Bucs midfielder. 

“This is a perfect opportunity for us to honor him by making sure that we do more than we did last season. We are aiming to achieve more this season and it will be great for us to do that in a season where we are playing in a jersey which is honoring uBab Mpanza.” 

The Mohlakeng-born player adds that he believes the club has great potential to add more this campaign after winning the Wafa Wafa and Ke Yona trophies the previous season. 

“We have shown that we are a team of fighters and can achieve anything we want. It is all about believing in our coaches and our abilities. What is also important for us is to make sure that we fight for one another and work very hard.” 

Makhaula and the rest of his Buccaneers recently landed back in the country following the pre-season tour in Spain where they played Spanish clubs Sevilla and Granada, as well as English club Plymouth Argyle coached by former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and Qatari outfit Al Sadd SC. 

Article by Tshepo Toko Ntsoelengoe

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