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Jose Riveiro of Orlando Pirates and Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns 16-9GOAL GFX
Celine Abrahams

Sorry, Orlando Pirates! But Mamelodi Sundowns have already secured the Premier Soccer League title

They say it’s never over until the final whistle, but things don’t look in the Buccaneers’ favour as their search for a league title continues.

We tried. We really did. We stared at the fixture list like it held the secrets of the universe. We ran the permutations, double-checked the goal differences and even imagined dramatic last-minute goals and epic collapses. 

The Ghost prayed to the football gods for just a little sprinkle of chaos. Anything to keep the Premier Soccer League title race alive. But after all that effort, the conclusion is as cold and clinical as a Teboho Mokoena pass through midfield; this league title belongs to Mamelodi Sundowns. End of story.

Even Orlando Pirates’ most loyal, die-hard fans might have to admit that the champagne is already chilling in Chloorkop and the yellow ribbons are halfway tied around the trophy. Sure, there’s still a faint mathematical possibility that something wild could happen, but let’s be honest, this one’s as good as done. 

Here, GOAL looks at how the dream died and why the Sea Robbers’ title ambitions should be tossed in the same basket as ‘how to overtake a Ferrari on a donkey cart’, technically possible, but only in a parallel universe with different physics.

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  • Jose Riveiro. Orlando Pirates, April 2025Backpagepix

    The maths isn’t mathing, mate!

    Let’s start with the dreaded numbers. Pirates trail Sundowns by a 12-point gap that only looks small if you ignore goal difference and reality. The Brazilians have four league matches left and would need to drop points in three of them for the Buccaneers to even have a sniff. That’s three teams somehow finding a way past the most ruthless machine in PSL history. 

    Oh, and Pirates would also need to go six-for-six with wins, all while praying Sundowns forget how to play football. As far as “how to win the league” manuals go, this one belongs in the fiction section.

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  • Miguel Cardoso and Flemming Berg, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    Sundowns don’t slip, they strangle

    Let’s be honest, Sundowns don’t collapse. They choke the league. They take your hope, apply high pressure, recycle possession and let the likes of Peter Shalulile or Marcelo Allende twist the knife. 

    They don’t just win titles, they kill suspense. Betting on them to suddenly collapse in the final four games is like waiting for Elon Musk to quit X (maybe possible), but why hold your breath?


  • Nkosinathi Sibisi, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    Pirates’ run is too little, too late

    There’s no denying the Buccaneers have been impressive with flowing football, thrilling goals and a real sense of momentum. But stumbles here and there, patchy form and dropped points against beatable teams have come back to haunt them. 

    It now feels like Jose Riveiro’s men are sprinting to catch a train that left five minutes ago. Even if they go on a perfect run-in, it’s all under the shadow of a Sundowns dynasty that simply refuses to give the rest of the league a chance.

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  • Jose Riveiro, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    The farewell gift: Riveiro’s Nedbank Cup run

    Here’s the silver lining. Pirates still have something real to fight for, the Nedbank Cup against Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs. And it might just be José Riveiro’s parting gift. The Spaniard has brought some flair and fight back to the Bucs, and signing off with silverware would be a fitting goodbye. 

    It’s no league title, sure, but it's a cup that’s still in reach and the chance to lift it might just salvage a season that was bound to see Sundowns grinning at the summit.


  • Orlando Pirates, April 2025Backpagepix

    Finish strong with 6 wins

    With the league title not in their control, Pirates can still make a statement by winning all their remaining matches. Currently second on the log, the Buccaneers need to channel all their energy into securing three points in each of their final six games. 

    Every match becomes an opportunity to show their true quality and leave a lasting impression on the season. Winning out might not be enough to clinch the title, but it would be a respectable way to close out the campaign and keep their hopes for continental football alive.

  • Kaizer Chiefs Orlando Pirates fansBackpagepix

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