Orlando Pirates News Today: Bucs told why they must learn from Sundowns, Sibisi hurting & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including advice to the Buccaneers on where they have to learn from Mamelodi Sundowns and Nkosinathi Sibisi reacting to the MTN8 final loss.

Pirates told to learn from Sundowns

Kamogelo Sebelebele and Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns in MTN8 final, Image: Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates legend Moeneeb Josephs has urged his former club to take lessons from Mamelodi Sundowns if they want to compete at the top level.

Pirates were subdued by Sundowns in the MTN8 final as Miguel Cardoso’s side won 2-0 thanks to goals from Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners to end the Buccaneers’ four-year dominance on Saturday.

Sundowns looked well-drilled compared to Pirates, who had a few chances that they wasted, including a missed penalty, and for Josephs, the game demonstrated the gulf in class and experience between the two sides.

Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate MTN8 glory. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

The former Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper feels Sundowns have taken their level a notch higher by winning the CAF Champions League as well as beating Saudi giants Al Ahli in the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, which gives them plenty of experience, something Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team still lack.

“We should take a lesson from this game not to feel like; ‘this and this happened’ no,” Josephs said on SoccerBeat.

“This Mamelodi Sundowns team played opposition that we dream to play one day and the lessons that they get from playing these teams and when they come back to our league, you can see the experience is just so much more vast than what we have.”

⚽️ Moeneeb: Pirates Must Take A Lesson From Sundowns ⚽️

Moeneeb explains why Orlando Pirates must take a lesson from the Sundowns loss. ☠️👆

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— SoccerBeat (@SoccerBeatZA) October 11, 2026

“Tactically, we are just not up to it. Tactically, we cannot compete, it showed we lacked that but where we lack in tactics, we show in energy and enthusiasm,” he added.

“So I believe our coaches will take note of this and see what we are lacking compared to Mamelodi Sundowns.”

Sibisi still hurting after MTN8 final loss

Meanwhile, Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi admits surrendering their MTN8 title is still bitter to swallow and will take some time to recover from.

The Buccaneers had won the last four MTN8 crowns but hopes of a record fifth on the bounce were dashed by a wily Sundowns on Saturday.

“A difficult one to take, you know. Very, very difficult. It’s going to be a very painful week for us. But we have to move on, we still have more games coming,” Sibisi admitted to the club’s media.

“I think we can still build from the performance; the boys left everything on the field, but it was just not meant to be.”