Sibisi Shifts Focus To Carling Knockout Amid League Lead
Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi is keeping his feet on the ground as his team tops the Betway Premiership log with 28 points after 12 games.
Pirates will finish 2025 at the summit of the log, two points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, who were held to a draw by Siwelele on Wednesday.
When Sibisi was asked if Pirates could win the league this season, he preferred to focus on the upcoming Carling Knockout final against Marumo Gallants.
“I think for us, the chapter of the league is closed for now,” Sibisi said.
“Our main focus for now is on the final of the Carling Knockout [against Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium] on Saturday, and I think we can speak about the league after we’ve played the final of the Carling.
“But for now, I think the position we’re in is all the hard work that we’ve been putting in.”
While league success remains the long-term goal, Sibisi emphasised that the immediate priority is securing the Carling Knockout title, which would complete a potential domestic treble for Pirates after lifting the MTN8 earlier this season.
The Buccaneers last won the league in the 2011/12 season, a campaign in which they also clinched a treble, lifting both the Carling Knockout and MTN8 titles. Since then, Pirates have fallen short in the league, finishing runners-up in the last three seasons.
With their strong form and another sold-out crowd expected in Polokwane, Sibisi believes the team can deliver a special moment.
“It’s quite a unique feeling to play in a sold-out stadium, and it’s probably every week when we play,” he added.
“For us, it’s always nice to have our fans pushing us, and I think the boys have never disappointed.
“The festive season is a season of gifts, and this one can be a huge gift for our fans if we can win this one, as they will be filling up the stadium.”
Saturday’s final will be Pirates’ last match of the year before the PSL breaks for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, running from late December to January 2026.
Sibisi will also be heading to Morocco after being named in the Bafana Bafana squad for AFCON. It will be his second appearance at the tournament, having been part of the national team that won the Bronze Medal in the 2024 edition in Ivory Coast.
