Orlando Pirates complete fairytale title triumph in dramatic fashion

“Yho. Yho. Yho!”

That could not have been my raucous reaction alone when Orlando Pirates beat Orbit College 2-0 to win the Betway Premiership at a sold-out Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The noise came in different pitches – low to high. But the loudest moment arrived when Orbit committed two comedy errors that not only condemned them to automatic relegation, but also handed the Betway Premiership title to Pirates on a silver platter.

Orbit duo Sabelo Nkomo and Ndumiso Ngiba sensationally scored own goals that ended the Sea Robbers’ 14-year league title drought.

In Pirates’ celebrations, which reverberated throughout the stadium and across the country, the duo almost became unwilling participants – their costly mistakes destined to remain part of one of the most dramatic title races in recent memory.

Unfortunately for them, they became the villains in their own story as Orbit dropped their heads in embarrassment after the final whistle, relegated after just one season in the top flight.

The story of Nkomo and Ngiba felt like something scripted for a movie. Yet there they were, rewriting the history books in the harshest way possible as architects of their own downfall.

Pirates, however, will not care. They completed a domestic treble after already winning the MTN8 and Carling Knockout earlier in the season, emulating the famous 2011/12 side that achieved the same feat.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou turned to his bench in celebration after the final whistle, embracing his technical staff after achieving what many of his predecessors failed to do.

It was a fitting moment for Pirates’ bench, whose squad depth and consistency conquered the domestic game this season. Several of those players will now hope to carry that momentum into Bafana Bafana’s Fifa World Cup campaign in North America next month.

Ouaddou, resplendent in a sharp suit befitting a newly crowned championship coach, endured nervy moments in the first half as Pirates threatened to add themselves to the list of teams who bottled the title on the final day despite having only one task – win.

His side rushed their opportunities in the final third and struggled to hit the target. My “yho” rose from low to medium pitch when Oswin Appollis slipped Tshepang Moremi through on goal, only for the winger to miss when it looked easier to score.

A series of earlier stoppages from Nkomo appeared to disrupt Pirates’ rhythm, but that changed when the goalkeeper stunned everyone by punching Moremi’s corner-kick into his own net while attempting a clearance.

That goal gave the Buccaneers a huge sigh of relief as they moved halfway towards the promised land by half-time, with their anthem Sekusele Kancane (“It’s Almost Time”) echoing around the stadium while my own “yho” continued loudly from the couch.

The loudest moment arrived early in the second half when Ngiba all but sealed the title for Pirates, slicing his clearance into the air and into his own empty net after Nkomo had moved off his line following a through-ball situation.

Nkomo and Ngiba ultimately handed Pirates the victory – and the title – perhaps proving true the saying that fortune favours the bold. Pirates had worked tirelessly throughout the season to finally knock Mamelodi Sundowns off their perch after three consecutive runners-up finishes.

While the story of Nkomo and Ngiba will be remembered for years to come, it will forever remain a painful chapter in their own careers – mistakes that not only relegated Orbit, but may also have cost the club nearly R50 million in top-flight status and revenue.