Pirates Cup

Last updated
Pirates Cup
Pirates Cup logo.jpg
Organising body Orlando Pirates F.C.
Founded2016;9 years ago (2016)
Region South Africa
Number of teams54
Current championsLerumo Lions (1st title)
Most successful team(s) Orlando Pirates U/21 (3 titles)
Website www.orlandopiratesfc.com
Soccerball current event.svg2025

The Pirates Cup is an U/21 soccer tournament hosted annually by Orlando Pirates. [1]

Contents

The current champions are Lerumo Lions who defeated Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the final. [2]

History

The inaugural edition was founded in 2016. [3] Orlando Pirates won the first three editions of the tournament.

In 2019, the tournament started allowing U/21 teams from the PSL and the NFD to participate and increased the numbers of teams from 24 to 32 teams. [4] Orlando Pirates were defeated 1-0 in the final by SuperSport United making Matsatsantsa the first team other than the Buccaneers to win the tournament. [5]

Champions

YearChampionsRunners-up
2016 Orlando Pirates
2017 Orlando Pirates
2018 Orlando Pirates
2019 SuperSport United Orlando Pirates
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19

pandemic in South Africa

2021
2022Ambassadors FCBosso 90
2023Stars of Africa Football Academy Orbit College
2024 University of Johannesburg [6] Teltonika Amahle
2025Lerumo Lions [2] Orlando Pirates

Project X

The best players at the tournament get to feature in the Project X team. Project X, is a developmental team formed by Orlando Pirates to develop its future stars and expose them to the highest level of football. The team has a yearly tour in which they play matches against some best academies.

The 2017 and 2019 Project X tours saw the team jet out to England. [7] [8] In 2018, they toured Brazil. [9]

Awards

The following players were rated best: [10]

YearGolden BootTeamMVPTeamGolden GloveTeam
2016
2017
2018
2019Rodi Sibanda (12 goals) Orlando Pirates Reagan Appollis SuperSport United not awarded
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19

pandemic in South Africa

2021
2022Mehluleli MaphumuloAmbassadors Relebogile Ratomo Transnet School of Excellencenot awarded
2023Lungile MokoenaAmahleSiyabulela Mabele Orbit College not awarded
2024Thokozani SibanyonieMalahleni UnitedMpendulo PhewaMidlands AcademyLungelo Sithole University of Johannesburg
2025Alfred KwaneleeMalahleni UnitedLucky MalatsiLerumo Lionsnot awarded

The tournament is sponsored by: [11]

References

  1. "Pirates Cup Group Stages Announced | Orlando Pirates Football Club". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  2. 1 2 "New Champions Crowned in 2025 Pirates Cup - Orlando Pirates FC". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  3. "Pirates Cup is back! | Orlando Pirates Football Club". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  4. "SSU Win Pirates Cup | Orlando Pirates Football Club". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  5. "Pirates Cup Group Stages Announced | Orlando Pirates Football Club". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  6. "UJ, JVW Crowned 2024 Pirates Cup Champions - Orlando Pirates FC". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. 2024-03-31. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  7. "Orlando Pirates' Project X 2019 to jet out to England". Sport. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  8. "EXTRA TIME: Orlando Pirates Project X youth team in London | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  9. "EXTRA TIME: Watch Orlando Pirates youngsters on their way to Rio | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  10. "Stars of Africa, Tuks Ladies Crowned 2023 Pirates Cup Champions | Orlando Pirates Football Club". www.orlandopiratesfc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  11. "Orlando Pirates Cup 2023 – aQuellé". aquelle.co.za. Retrieved 2024-03-28.