PIC: Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo of Orlando Pirates (front)

Orlando Pirates will be appearing in the Nedbank Cup final for the fifth time since 2008 when they take on Sekhukhune United in the 2023 decider at Loftus Versfeld on May 27.

Here are some of the key numbers behind the Soweto club’s impressive campaign to date.

Most minutes

450 – Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is the only man to have played every minute of the campaign so far for The Bucaneers, which includes three of their ties going to extra-time. Monnapule Saleng is the closest to him but came off the final two minutes against Venda Football Academy in the Last 16.    

Top scorer

3 – Thembinkosi Lorch heads the scorers list for Pirates this season with three goals, netted against All Stars (Last 32), Venda Football academy (Last 16) and Dondol Stars (quarterfinals). He missed the semifinal against Kaizer Chiefs due to injury. Incidentally, he is also Pirates’ joint leading scorer in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 with five goals, level with Kermit Erasmus, Oupa Manyisa and Tendai Ndoro.     

Most substitute appearances

3 – Thabiso Monyane and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo have made the most sub appearances for Pirates this season with three each. Ndlondlo has a chequered history in the Nedbank Cup final – he scored the winner for TTM in 2021 but was then sent-off last year against Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Oldest and youngest players used

33 – Thabang Monare is the oldest player to have featured for Pirates in this year’s Nedbank Cup, pipping fellow midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula by two months. The 37-year-old goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane has been on the bench for all four of their ties, but has yet to see action.

22 – Striker Evidence Makgopa played 45 minutes against Venda Football Academy and is the youngest Pirates player to see action in the Nedbank Cup this season. Promising teenager Relebohile Ratomo has been on the bench a couple of times, but has yet to be introduced.     

Team goals scored

7 – Pirates have scored seven goals in their four ties to date, netting twice against All Stars (2-0), Venda Football Academy (2-1) and Kaizer Chiefs (2-1). They could only manage a single goal against ABC Motsepe League side Dondol Stars (1-1) but triumphed on penalties.   

Team goals conceded

3 – Pirates have conceded three goals this campaign to date, though never more than one in a single game. The only clean sheet they have kept was in the 2-0 Last 32 victory over second-tier All Stars.        

Disciplinary

9 yellows – Pirates have had nine bookings in this year’s competition, all for different players. That is an average of a little over two per game. Perhaps not surprisingly, five of those came in the feisty Soweto Derby semifinal win over rivals Kaizer Chiefs, where emotions always run high. 

Scorers this season
3 goals – Thembinkosi Lorch

2 – Kermit Erasmus

1 – Sandile Mthethwa, Monnapule Saleng