Carling Knockout Cup Final: Pirates Seek First Title Since 2011

The wait continues for Orlando Pirates. This Saturday, they face Marumo Gallants in the final of the Carling Knockout Cup, but history suggests the odds are stacked against them.

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Despite being one of South Africa’s biggest and most successful clubs, Pirates’ record in this Carling Knockout has been poor. They’ve reached the final nine times under various formats but lifted the trophy only once, a 3-1 win over Bidvest Wits back in 2011.

In the five years between 2020 and 2025, the club has appeared in 10 cup finals across competitions, underscoring its consistency in knockout football. Yet, the League Cup (now Carling Knockout) has remained elusive, a glaring gap in the Buccaneers’ trophy cabinet that fans are all too aware of.

Stakes and Context

Pirates qualified for the 2025 final after a narrow 1-0 semifinal win over Richards Bay at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium. Meanwhile, Gallants punched their ticket to the decider by edging out Golden Arrows on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, 6 December at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, offering Pirates a shot at redemption.

A Tough Cup History

• Final Appearances: 9 (or 10 in five years across cups)
  
• Carling Knockout/League-Cup Wins: 1 (2011)
  
• Runners-up Finishes: 8 (1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018)

Simply put, making the final seems almost routine, but turning that into silverware has been an endurance test for a club synonymous with cup pedigree.