Orlando Pirates are crowned champions of the DSTV Diski Challenge 2025/26.
Image: BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates’ reserve team have been crowned the DStv Diski Challenge champions for the first time, handing the baton to the senior side, who are also on the brink of winning the Betway Premiership title.
Pirates’ juniors sealed the reserve league crown in style after beating rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the season finale at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers’ title-winning tally of 75 points also saw them surpass the previous record of 70 points set by arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs last season, although Amakhosi played two fewer matches (28) following the ban of Royal AM.
Since the inception of the reserve league in 2014, Pirates had never lifted the trophy before. Previous winners include Chiefs, Stellenbosch FC (twice), SuperSport United, AmaZulu, Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Golden Arrows (twice), Mamelodi Sundowns and the University of Pretoria.
Pirates reserve team coach Roscoe Krieling is no stranger to success in the competition. He previously won the title with SuperSport United alongside co-coach Thabo September.
Given the stature and expectations of Pirates, Krieling will take even greater satisfaction from this season’s achievement. However, his focus will also be on ensuring that more players from the reserve side graduate to the senior team during pre-season.
Pirates’ development structures have already produced several exciting talents who have excelled on bigger stages, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi – now at Chicago Fire in the MLS – and Mohau Nkota, who has since joined Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
The reserve team’s success could also inspire the senior side as they continue their push for league glory.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team are now just three wins away from capturing the PSL top-flight title – they’ll face Magesi away, Durban City at home and Orbit College away in their last three games respectively.