The Pirates Cup is an U/21 soccer tournament hosted annually by Orlando Pirates.
The current champions are FC Leapers who defeated TS Galaxy 4-3 via penalties in the final.
History The inaugural edition was founded in 2016. Orlando Pirates won the first three editions of the tournament.
In 2019, the tournament started allowing U/21 teams from the PSL and the NFD to participate and increased the numbers of teams from 24 to 32 teams. Orlando Pirates were defeated 1-0 in the final by SuperSport United making Matsatsantsa the first team other than the Buccaneers to win the tournament.
Champions
+YearChampions Runners-up2016Orlando Pirates 2017Orlando Pirates 2018Orlando Pirates 2019SuperSport United Orlando Pirates 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa20212022Ambassadors FCBosso 902023Stars of Africa Football AcademyOrbit College2024University of JohannesburgTeltonika Amahle2025Lerumo LionsOrlando Pirates2026FC LeapersTS Galaxy
Project X The best players at the tournament get to feature in the Project X team. Project X, is a developmental team formed by Orlando Pirates to develop its future stars and expose them to the highest level of football. The team has a yearly tour in which they play matches against some best academies.
The 2017 and 2019 Project X tours saw the team jet out to England. In 2018, they toured Brazil.
Awards The following players were rated best: +YearGolden BootTeamMVPTeamGolden GloveTeam2016201720182019Rodi Sibanda (12 goals)Orlando Pirates Reagan AppollisSuperSport United not awarded 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa20212022Mehluleli MaphumuloAmbassadors Relebogile RatomoTransnet School of Excellencenot awarded 2023Lungile MokoenaAmahle Siyabulela MabeleOrbit Collegenot awarded 2024Thokozani SibanyonieMalahleni UnitedMpendulo PhewaMidlands AcademyLungelo SitholeUniversity of Johannesburg 2025Alfred KwaneleeMalahleni UnitedLucky Malatsi Lerumo Lions not awarded 2026Promise Phephenyan (5 goals)Lambani Football AcademyMoeketsi KoalepeFC Leapers Moeketsi KoalepeFC Leapers
Sponsor The tournament is sponsored by:
Orlando Pirates (host) Vodacom adidas aQuelle Oppo Marriott Bonvoy
References