History The Buccaneers, as they are popularly known, originated in 1937 in Orlando East Soweto. The club was originally a community club, as it was founded by offspring of migrant workers who moved from rural areas to work in the gold mines of Gauteng. Boys in Orlando came together at every available opportunity in open spaces and in informal groupings to play football. That original club was called the Orlando Boys Club and was only adorned the name “Pirates” after the 1940 film The Sea Hawk, starring Errol Flynn. In 1940, Buthuel Mokgosinyane, the first president, used his own funds to purchase their first kit. They participated in Johannesburg Bantu Association's Saturday League, where they won the Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One in 1944. Andrew Bassie, a key member of the team, suggested the new name 'Orlando Pirates'. The team composed the camp's war cry 'Ezimnyama Ngenkani'. 

Dominance In The 1960s, the club boasted a number of high profile players who shaped South African football. After an internal strife at the club, which saw the birthing of would be eternal rivals Kaizer Chiefs, the club remained nonetheless stable and went on to have a successful decade in the 1970s, where they accumulated a record of successes having won the National Professional Soccer League title in 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976. They went on to win 9 more silverware in the form of cup competitions. Players like Jomo Sono made the Bucs one of the most entertaining sides in the country with his mesmerising skills, flicks, and turns. The 80s constituted a dry spell on the league front for the Buccanners as their rivals Kaizer Chiefs became more dominant. However, they managed to win the league cup in 1980 and again in 1988, and also won the top 8 competition in 1983. They would win the league again in 1994, a decade where they also won the Rothmans Cup in 1996 and also the BP Top 8 in 1993 and again in 1996. The biggest achievement of this decade was their 1995 triumph in the CAF Champions League, wherein Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Skhosana was key. They were the first club from South Africa to win this cup and also the first in the southern hemisphere. In this decade however they were not to win the domestic league, winning it again at the beginning of the millennium in the 2000-01 season (including the Top 8 cup) and also in the 2002-03 season. In 2004 and 2005, under Serbian coach Kostadin Papic, they were league also-rans having witnessed Kaizer Chiefs sweep almost all before them, however, they playing the most entertaining football in the league with players such as the young Gift Leremi, Lebohang Cheeseboy Mokoena, Benedict Vilakazi, Jimmy Tau, Steve Lekoelea and the like. They became the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season back to back, having won the domestic league ABSA Premiership, the FA Cup Nedbank Cup and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2010–11 season and domestic league ABSA Premiership, the League Cup Telkom Knockout and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2011–12 season under legendary Dutchman Ruud Krol. In the year 2011, Orlando Pirates enjoyed tremendous success by winning the 2010–11 Premier Soccer League, The Nedbank Cup, The MTN 8 Cup and The Telkom Knockout. This year was dubbed as "The Happy Year." 

Soweto Derby The Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in world football. And in contrast to most of the other games played in the Premier Soccer League in South Africa, matches between the two archrivals attract a full house of supporters almost without fail. 

Premier Soccer League Winners (4): 2000-01, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2011–12 

National Soccer League Winners (1): 1994 

National Premier Soccer League Winners (4): 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976 

Nedbank Cup Winners (8): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2011, 2014 

Telkom Knockout Winners (1): 2011 

MTN 8 Winners (9): 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2011 

Castle Challenge Winners (1): 1992 

Sales House Cup Winners (4): 1972, 1975, 1977, 1983 

CAF Champions League Winners (1): 1995 Runners-up (1): 2013 

CAF Super Cup Winners (1) : 1996 

CAF Confederation Cup Runners-up(1): 2015 

Most appearances: William Okpara 375[8] 

Most goals: Benedict Vilakazi 52 

Most capped Player: Teko Modise 57 (South Africa) 

Most appearances in a season: Oupa Manyisa and Senzo Meyiwa 51 (2013–14) 

Most goals in a season: Dennis Lota 23 (1999–00) 

Record win: 9–1 v Olympics (Bob Save Super Bowl 07/03/1999) 

Record loss: 0-6 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (League 11/02/2017) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 

Most Famous Players Being arguably the biggest club in South Africa, they have naturally boasted some of the biggest names the country has seen in history. Mark Fish, Jerry Skhosana, Steve Lekoelea, Benedict Vilakazi, Benni MCcarthy, Isaac Chansa, Kaizer Motaung, Jomo Sono, Williams Okpara, Lesley Manyathela, among plenty others.   

-JP