PIRATES PROVED TOO STRONG FOR MILFORD

Orlando Pirates kicked their league title defence off with victory, beating Betway Premiership debutants Milford 2-0 in their season-opener played at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

It was the ideal return to action for the Buccaneers who netted a goal in each half to walk off with three crucial points. They shot straight to the top of the standings after the first set of fixtures of the opening day with a fair bit of action still to come on Match Day One of the 2026/27 campaign. 

The long wait for the return of competitive football came to an end and a sell-out crowd in Soweto was treated to a bright start from the hosts. Despite dominating possession and camping inside opposition territory, chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges with the Buccaneers failing to make the most of their entries into the attacking third. 

The Stallions meanwhile managed to ask a few questions of Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine, who had to dive low to keep out an effort from range before needing to have his wits about him to keep out Cebolenkosi Mthethwa’s 20th minute from a fair way out. 

The early nerves were however settled following a foul on striker Yanela Mbuthuma just a couple of yards from the visitors’ penalty area. Oswin Appollis was the man to step up and made no mistake in making it 1-0 to the home side with his right-footed effort that caught a deflection that wrong-footed the keeper before landing in the back of the net. 

Milford’s search for a quick equaliser was in vain as a rare period of dominance failed to effect a change to the scoreline. The bulk of the action in the first half remained at the other end where Pirates continued to advance, going close to a second through a set piece taken by Deon Hotto who was narrowly off target with his effort at goal. 

While keeping possession at the start of the second period, clear-cut opportunities eluded the Buccaneers as they struggled to regain their rhythm after the restart. Their only chance before the hour mark came courtesy of Thalente Mbatha whose effort was deflected on its way to goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza. 

They remained on the front-foot, with Hleza denying Tshepang Moremi in the 79th minute. The Bucs winger was however not to be shut down for much longer as he breached the shot-stopper’s defences just as he was played behind the defence with just five minutes left to play and rounded off the Milford gloveman for his side’s second.

The visitors had a late surge with replacement striker Sicelo Masilela sending one across the face of the Pirates goal following an attack from the left flank. Things weren’t entirely quiet at the other end where Boitumelo Radiopane went for goal from range only for his shot to drift well wide of the target. 

With not many stoppages occurring throughout the 90 minutes, it made for minimal additional time and the Buccaneers had no issues hanging on to their lead to ensure the perfect start to the new campaign. 

Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Sebelebele (Lungu 75’), Hotto (Rapoo 66’), Mbatha, Dansin, Maswanganyi (Masilela 75’), Appollis (Kgotsitsile 66’), Moremi, Mbuthuma (Radiopane 66’)

SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.