Exclusive: Sebola Predicts Pirates Will Finally End Sundowns’ Stranglehold on the League

Former Orlando Pirates attacker Andries Sebola believes his former side finally have what it takes to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns and reclaim their league glory.

The Buccaneers are chasing their first league crown since the 2011/12 campaign. Last season, they looked poised to challenge before fading late and ending 13 points behind champions Sundowns.

Now, under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, they have started the new campaign with renewed confidence.

Challenging start to the season

Pirates faced a tricky start to the season as Ouaddou stepped in to replace former coach Jose Riveiro. 

With several new signings to integrate and a new system to adapt to, the Soweto giants had their work cut out early on. However, they’ve adjusted quickly and now look one of the most balanced teams in the league.

Their strong start to the campaign has been reflected in national recognition, with seven players called up to Bafana Bafana for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. 

Sebola believes this is a clear sign of how well the team has performed so far.

“They are playing well, and it’s not a mistake that they have a lot of players in the national team,” Sebola told SportsBoom.co.za.

“Sundowns has not been doing well and for Pirates it’s a matter of consistency and not getting carried away because they are the team to beat this season. It’s just a matter of them putting their heads down and taking each and every game as it comes.”

Competition for places

Sebola noted that the fierce competition within the squad keeps players sharp and drives them to maintain high standards in every position.

“They will be the team to beat this season with the way they are playing. All the players that have been given the chance to start the matches, they always deliver.”

“The competition is tough there, and whoever gets the opportunity to start the game needs to deliver.”

“The only issue with Pirates is that consistency is not always there, especially if you check a couple of seasons back. They lacked consistency even under Jose Riveiro.”

“They have a tendency of not doing well against teams like Richards Bay FC and Golden Arrows, but this season they are playing every game like it’s a cup final and all the players are putting in a lot of effort.”

Overcoming a tough start to the campaign

Ouaddou endured some early scrutiny after back-to-back league defeats against Marumo Gallants (2-1) and Sekhukhune United (1-0) but quickly turned things around. 

Pirates’ 4-1 penalty shootout win against Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals after a 2-2 aggregate draw over two legs reignited confidence, and since then, they have gone on an eight-match winning streak in all competitions to go with an MTN8 title.

“So far so good, I cannot falter him,” Sebola said on Ouaddou.

“With the new acquisitions the club has given him, with the likes of Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis, it will be up to him to ensure they continue to deliver results.”

“At a club like Pirates, it’s all about winning because whether you play home or away, the support will always come in numbers. So it’s just about him finding the right combinations.”

League title up for grabs

As the Buccaneers continue to build momentum and get stronger with every game, Sundowns have continued to struggle to find their usual rhythm. 

The defending league champions were eliminated from the Carling Knockout by Gallants on penalties after a goalless draw in 120 minutes.

Despite remaining top of the Betway Premiership table with 21 points from ten games, Pirates remain just six points behind in third place with three matches in hand.

Sebola told Sportsboom.co.za that this presents the perfect opportunity for the Sea Robbers to make their move.

“They have to take advantage of the fact that Sundowns is struggling,” Sebola said.

“Because if Sundowns manage to find themselves and start playing the way they used to the last couple of seasons, it will be difficult for them.”

“But I can see them challenging Sundowns and going all the way to win the league title, which is more important, together with getting as far as they can in the CAF Champions League, but it will not be easy.”

“They need to collect as many points as they can now, and it will help them at the end of the season.”

The Pirates legend also praised the squad depth at Ouaddou’s disposal, which he believes is helping them maintain a high level of performance across all competitions.

“The options available to him have been working for him.”

“If one player is not doing well, there is always another waiting for their chance. The competition is tight this season; it’s just a matter of them collecting points whenever they are playing," he concluded.