Orlando Pirates News Today: Ncikazi hits back at own-goal conspiracy theories, Sebelebele’s vow & more

Orlando Pirates news, including Mandla Ncikazi’s response to the conspiracy theories around the title-clinching own goals and Kamogelo Sebelebele’s reaction to defeat in Spain.

Pirates coach rejects own-goal conspiracy theories

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has addressed the mockery and allegations that trailed the club after they sealed the 2025/26 Betway Premiership title in the most unusual of circumstances, according to KickOff.

Mandla Ncikazi and Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates. Photo: Orlando Pirates

The Buccaneers needed a win on the final day and got one, beating Orbit College 2-0 at Mbombela Stadium to end a 14-year wait for the league crown. Both goals, however, arrived via the hosts: goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo turned the ball into his own net before the break, with Ndumiso Ngiba adding a second early in the second half.

Orbit were relegated as a result, and the manner of the win prompted a wave of theories about whether the game had been influenced.

Speaking on the final episode of the club’s documentary series, Bucs Camp: We Fight Till The End, Ncikazi accused critics of applying one standard to Pirates and another to everyone else.

“I like how the knives become sharper for decisions that are (for) Orlando Pirates. If you remember correctly, I don’t think in the PSL is the first time you see two own goals in one match, you saw it in Siwelele versus Sundowns but nobody is talking about it. For the first time you saw Siwelele conceding seven goals, something that has never happened to them in their history,” Ncikazi said.

Sebelebele demands improvement after NEOM defeat

Winger-turned-full-back Kamogelo Sebelebele has conceded that the Buccaneers must sharpen up after signing off their Spanish training camp with a second loss to Saudi opposition.

Kamogelo Sebelebele, Orlando Pirates vs Orbit College. Image: Pirates

Pirates went down 1-0 to NEOM SC at the Marbella Football Center on Friday night, undone by a Saïd Benrahma free-kick on the half-hour that beat Sipho Chaine at his near post. It followed a 3-2 reverse against Al Ittihad, leaving Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side with two wins, one draw and two defeats from their five matches in Europe.

The Bafana Bafana international was blunt about the return trip home.

“It’s not the results we wanted. But we will fix it [mistakes] at training and improve on our mistakes,” he said.

The defending champions open their Betway Premiership title defence against top-flight newcomers Milford FC on Saturday August 1, at the Orlando Amstel Arena.