Exclusive: Benedict Vilakazi Impressed as Orlando Pirates’ New Boys Pass Big Club Pressure Test

Former Orlando Pirates, and Bafana Bafana striker Benedict Vilakazi was impressed with Oswin Appollis, Sihle Nduli and Sipho Mbule as the trio donned the Black and white stripes of the Buccaneers for the first time this past weekend.

Big Club Pressure

Over the winter, the trio penned different deals to join the mighty Buccaneers for the first time in their careers as Orlando Pirates looked to complete a formidable squad for the 2025/26 season.

Their first task was Polokwane City at home in the MTN 8 quarterfinals. The new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, started the trio, and they made an immediate impact with Nduli and Mbule dominating the midfield.

Less than 15 minutes into the encounter, Apollis was on the scoresheet, scoring his maiden goal for Pirates. About 20 minutes later, Appollis was fouled in the box, setting up the scene for Patrick Maswanganyi's successful penalty kick.

Pirates would go on to secure a 2-0 victory, a performance that impressed former striker Vilakazi. More than anything, Vilakazi was particularly impressed with the debutants who were playing under immense pressure.

"To play for a team like Orlando Pirates, there's always pressure. You play for that team, you must know that you've got pressure until the day you retire in the game because Pirates is a big team," Vilakazi told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

"Appollis, for me, was wonderful. It was his first game, and he scored a goal. The second goal was a penalty where they fouled him in the box. For me, that was a perfect game, especially for a debut. You cannot ask for more than what he did on Saturday, and to also be named man of the match - for me, that's fantastic."

"That's why I'm saying, to be a Pirates player, there's always pressure and you must be ready for that pressure. Know the pressure and understand how you're going to handle it, and I think the new players at Orlando Pirates did very well in handling the pressure. They played like they've been playing for Pirates for quite some time, and that's including Nduli and Mbule dominating that midfield."

Will Pirates & Sundowns dominate the 2025/25 season?

The MTN 8 quarterfinals were the curtain raiser for the season, and up next is the league itself.

Mamelodi Sundowns have been dominant over the last decade, winning eight consecutive league titles, while Orlando Pirates are often one of the few teams that challenge Sundowns in the league.

As the league is set to get underway this week, Vilakazi believes that Pirates will be a serious threat, considering the performance that they put on display against Polokwane City over the weekend.

Vilakazi, who also donned the green and gold of Mamelodi, highlighted that the Sundowns have confidence on their side, a feature that will give them the edge once again this season.

"You can see that Pirates mean business this season. Last season they fell short a bit, but this season they mean business with the players that they've signed in the team, it tells you that they want the league and they want to win this season," Vilakazi told SportsBoom.co.za.

"And it's not going to be easy, it's a marathon. There will be highs and lows, but if they keep that focus and continue to work hard, I think something will happen for them this season."

"I was so happy to see the style of football that they displayed. They've shown us the way of Sundowns, the philosophy of Sundowns, that entertaining football we all know them for. I was very impressed with how Cardoso put the players in terms of the positioning and the way the team."

"Sundowns will never stop going the extra mile. They want to be champions. The more they win, their players are getting experience and confidence. They're just going to want to add more so that they remain the champions of the league."

Orlando Pirates will host Sekhukhune United at home on Saturday to kickstart their league campaign, while Sundowns will travel to Gqeberha to go head-to-head with Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.