It is a well known fact that there is an intense rivalry and arch-enemy tussles between two of the most popular and prominent football teams in South Africa namely Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Despite this rivalry, I posit and predict that it will be Kaizer Chiefs which helps Orlando Pirates to lift the Betway league title within the next few weeks, after the title eluded the Bucaneers for over 15 years.
According to historical accounts and our football recollections, Kaizer Chiefs is credited with helping Orlando Pirates avoiding relegation in 1985 during the most difficult period in its history.
1985 was an extremely terrible year for Orlando Pirates. The year started with the Bucaneers splitting into two factions which became a defining moment of violence and administrative chaos in South African soccer, stemming from the breakaway of top clubs from the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) to the newly formed National Soccer League (NSL).
With regard to Orlando Pirates, the conflict was between a faction led by Sipho “Sixty” Mali, which aligned to the newly formed NSL and the other faction aligned to Dibaba “China” Hlongwane on the NPSL. I vividly remember watching China Hlongwane bleeding after he was stabbed several times in full view television at the jam-packed Ellis Park Stadium. This happened immediately after two Orlando Pirates teams got into the field at the same time to play Jomo Cosmos.
Due to the Orlando Pirates turmoil and split, 1985 was the worst year for the Bucaneers as the club fought relegation. As its offspring, Kaizer Chiefs showed solidarity and “favours” to help Orlando Pirates survive relegation at the end of the season.
Under coach Joe Frickleton, it is undisputed that Kaizer Chiefs “assisted and “enabled” Orlando Pirates to secure necessary points in their last game to prevent the top-flight collapse of the rival club.
With only 3 games remaining before the 2025/2026 championship is decided, the current league champions (and a champion for the last 8 seasons) Mamelodi Sundowns is leading Orlando Pirates with only two points.
With football unpredictable, the permutations are that if Mamelodi Sundowns draws any of its final 3 games, Orlando Pirates will have it, winning on goal difference. Out of the 3 remaining games, the most difficult and decisive game is against Kaizer Chiefs, the arch rival of Orlando Pirates.
Orlando Pirates supporters, fans and lovers alike, are betting for Chiefs to upset Sundowns or at least getting a draw on Wednesday 06 May 2026. On the other hand, the diehard supporters of Chiefs are cutting their noses to spite their faces as a self-destructive overreaction to ensure Pirates doesn’t lift the league trophy in 15 years.
In essence, Chiefs supporters are willing to go as far as harming themselves out of anger and historical rivalry to ensure that Pirates doesn’t succeed with some of them remarking and vowing that Pirates can’t take the league before Chiefs that last won the Championship 11 years ago.
As history repeats itself, it will be Kaizer Chiefs that secures Orlando Pirates the league championship like it did in 1985 when it saves it from relegation.
China Dodovu, ardent Kaizer Chiefs supporter!
