Name: Orlando Pirates Country: South Africa City: Parktown, Johannesburg Stadium: Orlando Stadium (35,000) Nickname: Buccaneers, Ezimnyama Ngenkani, Happy People, Sea Robbers, Amabhakabhaka Official website: http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/ Honors: 1 Champions League, 1 CAF Super Cup, 9 league titles, 7 cup titles A background: Pirates for Black South Africans The ‘Sea Robbers' were founded by a group of teenagers in 1934 under the name of the Boys Club in Orlando East, Soweto - as the football team was established three years later by a boxing instructor dubbed ‘Pele Pele'. The ‘Happy People' of Orlando managed to make their first major impact when they secured promotion to Division One in 1944 by winning the Division Two title. During the 40s, Andrew Bassie - a key member of the team - was inspired by the 1940 film ‘The Sea Hawk' and as a result the Orlando Boys were renamed Orlando Pirates. Pirates claimed a myriad of domestic league and cup titles during the 70s but their top achievement remains that sensational 1995 Champions League triumph. Off the pitch, a significant part of the club's history was their unofficial role in supporting Black South Africans at the time they struggled against racism, although a political force was never launched. Players to watch: South African Wael Gomaa and big Collins Lucky Lekgwathi: Still team captain and an influential figure at the age of 37, Lekgwathi is probably the equivalent of Egypt stalwart Wael Gomaa for Ahli. He is a modern center-half who has been with Pirates since 2002, representing South Africa 13 times. Collins Mbesuma: The burly Zambian is arguably the biggest man defending champions Ahli will have to overcome this season. Zambia's first-choice striker, Mbesuma has been Pirates top scorer last season with 10 goals in all competitions and his memorable brace against Mazembe wrapped up the Buccaneers famous win this year. Andile Jali: A young central midfielder with energy, creativity and an incisive pass, which makes him one of South Africa's promising future prospects. Coach: Roger De Sá De Sá is a South African manager who only worked inside his homeland, with his most notable feat coming in 2002-2003 when he was voted PLS Coach of the season after guiding Wits University to third place. A former goalkeeper, De Sá was a member of the Bafana Bafana 1996 Africa Cup of Nations' winning squad but despite skippering big clubs in Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns, he only has one international cap. Interesting facts -Pirates are the only South African outfit to win the Champions League, making them the first team to be honored by the then-head of state revolutionary icon Nelson Mandela in 1995. -Manager Da Sá is one of very few South Africans who represented their country in three different sports; football, basketball and futsal.
