1977 – 1993
Players play matches and sweat, whilst supporters fight battles and bleed. All for the love of the badge.
Orlando Pirates fans are passionate special group. They love their club to a point that if things don’t go well, they fix them on their own. Who can forget the day they travelled in kombis (minibus taxis) to Pirates’ training session to attack their coach whose style of play they didn’t approve despite the coach bringing league and cup double?
South African football history remembers them as one of the few local clubs who participated in the first ever National Professional Soccer League in 1971, which they won, who are still in existence today and are currently the second oldest team in the current South African League.
Formed in 1937 by Sofasonke Mpanza, a man who was nicknamed ‘Magebhula’ literally meaning “the One who cuts a large portion for himself” was a well respected citizen. He named the club Orlando Boys FC and later renamed it to Orlando Pirates in 1939.
When David Motsamai, a name which the current generation of some Pirates fans will not be familiar with took over as a patron of the club, he continued the legacy. The name David Motsamai would also be known in the political circles as Nelson Mandela’s alias name, was a man of action. Without any branding and marketing, he made people respect Orlando Pirates. Fast forward 1971, a league was formed. Pirates were inaugural Champions. Their success in the early 70s was short-lived as the breakaway side Kaizer XI, which was later named Kaizer Chiefs took over the popularity and dominance.
In 1976, it was the last time ‘EzikaMagebhula owagebhula umhlaba kaMasipala’ tasted league glory. They were untouchable.
Orlando Pirates sense of joy was playing the SOWETO derby, and defeat the rivals, Swallows and Chiefs. The rivalry was more fiercely against Chiefs than against Swallows. Finishing in the Top 2 became a tough task to ask. Pirates became a top 8 to midtable team. At one stage, rival bosses had to chip in with players and with administration advise.
Things changed in 1977. There was war on the streets. Fighting over players’ signatures was fierce. Fans became heavily involved in the recruitment of players. Pirates lost the title and finished 4th.
In 1978 things became worst. Pirates finished 10th.The Sunday Times reported in June of the same year spectators carrying knives attacked the referee in SOWETO after they were dissatisfied with the officiating. It was a political era in South Africa and SOWETO was at the center of the uprisings.
In 1979 Pirates finished 9th, still there was no joy amongst the faithfuls. In May of 1979 in Rand Stadium another attack on referee occurred. Orlando Pirates fans were developing a very uncompromising approach towards the match officials.
1980 (4th), 1981 (7th), 1982 (5th), The Buccaneers were no where near their bests. There was no sign of challenging for the league. The team was inconsistent in every angle.
A new year 1983 came, Pirates finished 8th. Former darling Jomo Sono came with his new team after purchasing Highlands Park to form his Jomo Cosmos. He wasn’t the first nor the only one to ditch ‘Indoda Emnyama’. Kaizer Motaung also didn’t the same in 1970 wheh he didn’t go back to Pirates and formed Chiefs upon his return from America.
The dry spell became too long frustrating on the stands. The streets were unhappy. 11 May 1983, Ellis Park Stadium experienced the wrath of Pirates fans. The Sowetan reported that Bucs faithfuls threw missiles on the pitch disputing referee’s decision. Two months later, the Buccaneers invaded the pitch, same like they did at Loftus in 2017 (Indeed, it runs in the family).
Same old story continued in 1984, Pirates finished 13th. 21 June 1984 the Ellis Park stadium witnessed yet another invasion. Pirates faced arguable the best Kaizer Chiefs side in their history which won 4 trophies in that year in a SOWETO derby. The Sowetan reported another pitch invasion stunt after Chiefs had scored a legitimate goal. Weeks later, 16 July 1984, the Ellis Park stadium was the battle field. Supporters attack was directed at the Assistant referee.
1985 (15th) just a point above relegation, 1986 (13th), 1987 (11th), there was no sign that things will ever change. At least, the SOWETO derby vs Chiefs kept the team team relevant. The struggles prompted Sundowns owner Zola Mahobe to send some of his best stars to help Pirates. Mahobe was a Pirate at heart. He didn’t feel it was right to see his childhood side struggle.
1988 things improved, but dry spell remained. Pirates finished 6th. In November of 1988, two separate incidences occurred at the Ellis Park stadium. First incidence saw two supporters killed and a security guard injured, and in the second incident, supporters went in for the referee after he disallowed Pirates’ goal. Supporters and security guards were once again, left injured.
1989 (2nd), 1990 (3rd) things were improving. Pirates had an intent to become great again.
A new era, a new hope. A relationship which started in 1980 as a secretary saw ownership changes. Irvin Khoza took over at the helm after failing to takeover Mamelodi Sundowns in 1989. Pirates finished 5th. 13 January 1991, Harry Oppenheimer stadium in Orkney saw 40 supporters lose their lives after a fight broke out involving Ezimnyama Ngenkani. It remains one of the darkest football incident in the history of South African football.
After finishing 4th in 1992, 1993 promised to be better. On 27 August 1993 at the Ellis Park stadium, a riot broke out outside the stadium’s gates as they were not opened on time by the authorities. The battle field changed in late 1993. The Ellis Park stadium took a break, and the FNB stadium became a new battle field for the people of Esigodini sikaMaminzela. October 1993 saw one fan shot dead, leaving 78 spectators injured. Chiefs and Pirates fans continued to fight each other. A month later on the 15th of November 1993, saw another fight of Chiefs and Pirates fans outside the stadium again. 1993 ended, the prodigal son’s club Jomo Cosmos were relegated and Pirates benefitted from their misfortune and signed several key Cosmos players.
Pirates then became more stronger on the field. Spectators had all to hope for again. Iwisa Maize Meal was not a trophy to brag about. BP Top 8, Bob Save Super Bowl and League title were all that was needed. The Iron Duke was in charge. Transfers were quality.
January 1994, as per the tradition, Pirates fans started fighting again at the FNB stadium and some were left injured. On 22 March 1994 at the FNB Stadium saw another incident when Chiefs were awarded a penalty. It didn’t seat well with Pirates fans and as usual, they wanted to ‘gebhula’ the referee. A section of the stadium was vandalized. Finally, 1994 ended in tears of joy for Pirates fans and club as they were declared league Champions in controversial circumstances. Vaal Professionals were deducted a point for allegedly fielding an improperly registered player. Pirates were awarded full points, and had to overtake table toppers Cape Town Spurs by one point, which eventually meant the Buccaneers, ezagebhula umhlaba kaMasipala, took the league and ended the drought. It was the end of the dark ages, and the beginning of glory days. Droughts are not easy to end. Sometimes, a little help from the office can turn your fortunes around. The Iron Duke was like a Moses of the Bible. 16 years of suffering ended. The 1994 team of Orlando Pirates ended the dark years, the clubs’ longest league drought period in the history of their existence.
Today, Pirates fans call themselves the happy people. They’re well known for being the hardest to please fans in the land. Once and always. Up the Bucs!
Pro Philani
Leave a Reply