Orlando Pirates secured their first win of the Betway Premiership season after defeating Stellenbosch FC 1-0 at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Stellenbosch FC
Date: 20 August 2025
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made one change from the draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8, with Oswin Appollis returning to the squad in place of Patrick Maswanganyi who dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, Lehlohonolo Mojela was handed his first start of the season in the Stellenbosch attack.
Appollis nearly marked his return to the Buccaneers side with a goal five minutes into the contest, but the Bafana Bafana winger sent his powerful strike crashing against the upright with goalkeeper Sage Stephens well-beaten.
The hosts got their reward on 15 minutes when Kamogelo Sebelebele made it two goals in two games with a wonderful strike from distance, which sailed into the top corner.
The hosts were forced to make a change soon after the goal as Deano van Rooyen was stretchered off with an injury, as Sipho Mbule was brought on as his replacement, with Sebelebele moving to the right-back position.
Stellenbosch, meanwhile, struggled to get their attackers in the game as Mojela and Devin Titus barely got a sniff of the ball in the opposition's 18-yard area.
The Buccaneers should have doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half when Deon Hotto was sent through on goal by Lebone Seema but with only Stephens to beat, the Namibian dragged his effort horribly wide of the target.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker responded with a quadruple change thereafter as Thato Khiba, Andre De Jong, Langelihle Phili and Khomotjo Lekoloane replaced Chumani Butsaka, Mojela, Titus and Lesiba Nku for the final 30 minutes.
The visitors did increase the tempo in search of the equaliser as they went close to pulling level with 15 minutes left on the clock after Lekoloane unleashed a powerful strike from distance that forced Chaine into a fine save.
That proved to be Stellenbosch's final chance as the Soweto giants remained strong at the back to hold out for their first league win while the visitors remain without a win.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: 34. Chaine, 3. Van Rooyen, 33. Seema, 44. Mbokazi, 7. Hotto, 30. Nduli, 16. Mbatha, 36. Sebelebele, 38. Mofokeng, 12. Appollis, 17. Makgopa
Subs: 40. Dladla, 32. Mariko, 28. Maswanganyi, 27. Xoki, 23. Mbule, 11. Moremi, 9. Mabasa, 3. Ndaba
Stellenbosch FC: 17. Stephens, 14. Nkwali, 24. Moloisane, 4. Stanic, 3. Mdaka, 33. Butsaka, 27. Jabaar, 7. Nku, Mthiyani, 34. Titus, 10. Mojela
Subs: 30. Masuluke, 26. Mcaba, 15. Khanyi, 12. Khiba, 8. Lekoloane, 11. Phili, 29. Mokobodi, 28. Palace, 14. De Jong
