Orlando Pirates ended a six-year trophyless spell in the Premier Soccer League when they came from behind to defeat 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 to win the MTN8 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.
The Buccaneers had lost four times in cup finals and finished runners-up twice in the league championship during those six barren years, but yesterday there was no denying the Soweto giants walking away with R8m and having their time in the sunshine, albeit at a wet and empty Durban venue.
Pirates leave their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs, who are in an unprecedented five-year run of not winning any silverware in the PSL. Amakhosi will equal Bucs' dismal record if they don't win the DStv Premiership, Nedbank Cup or Caf Champions League this season.
Pirates' victory could be a signal that they've found their mojo and they could be huge challengers to reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premiership in the 2020-21 campaign.
Josef Zinnbauer's team is one of four yet to be beaten in the league this season, but Bucs' bright start has been impaired by four draws in six matches and they are four points behind the table-topping Brazilians.
Pirates prevailed through Deon Hotto (32m) and Thembinkosi Lorch's penalty (53m), to win their 10th top eight trophy in 15 finals in the 44th edition of the competition.
Zinnbauer has been seeing his charges conceding first and forced to rework their strategy during the last three league matches against SuperSport United (2-1), Baroka (1-1) and Cape Town City (2-2), and the 50-year-old German, who completed a year with the club on Thursday, couldn't halt that dangerous trend yesterday.
Poor marking allowed Phunya Sele Sele to grab the lead in the 4th minute after Siphelele Luthuli was left with space inside the box to pick his spot as the Bucs defence failed to clear Menzi Masuku's corner.
But as in the past three league games, Bucs' quality, especially in attack, showed.
Pirates started to dominate possession and even an injury to midfielder Thabang Monare midway through the first half was a blessing as Zinnbauer, who won his first trophy as a coach, introduced Lorch to give Pirates more options. The Bafana Bafana player grabbed the winner.
The winning strike was more gifted by Celtic, who failed to deal with Bucs keeper Richard Ofori's long clearance. The ball went all the way to the box where Celtic's Ronald Pfumbidzai bundled Lorch and referee Luxolo Badi pointed to the spot and gave the Zimbabwean defender his marching orders.
With a man advantage Pirates dominated even more though they were guilty of missing a number of gilt-edge opportunities. They missed wrapping up the game as John Maduka's team tried to find an equaliser.
Maduka, who won this trophy as a Celtic player in 2005, will be gutted to have lost a second final within four months of being appointed as Celtic head coach. His team lost the Nedbank Cup final to Sundowns in September.
In the end, though, Pirates deserved their victory and with better defensive discipline Zinnbauer's team could claim more famous victories this season.
Bucs' strength is in midfield where they have Lorch, Fortune Makaringe, Vincent Pule and Hotto supporting Zakhele Lepasa.
On yesterday's performance Pirates and their supporters could not be stopped being "Happy People" again.
Scorers
Bloemfontein Celtic(1) 1
Orlando Pirates(1) 2
GOALS: Celtic - Siphelele Luthuli (4m) Orlando Pirates - Deon Hotto (32m); Thembinkosi Lorch (p 53m)
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