In retrospective: From Jomo Sono to Relebohile Mofokeng – Pirates' iconic Nedbank Cup triumphs

Orlando Pirates have lifted the Nedbank Cup in each of the past two seasons, and a win on Saturday would see them complete their first treble under the current sponsorship of the competition.

Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, haven’t tasted Nedbank Cup glory since the 2012/13 season. As they prepare for what could be one of the most significant finals in the club’s storied history, there’s plenty on the line when they face off against the Buccaneers at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (15:30 kick-off).

As we build up to this massive showdown, we take a look at the top five moments Pirates have enjoyed in this competition over the years.

Jomo Sono Mainstay Cup | 1980 final vs Moroka Swallows

Following a dominant spell in the Life Challenge Cup, the Sea Robbers endured a four-season drought in the competition, making their return to glory all the more crucial in a high-stakes Soweto derby clash against Moroka Swallows.

Orlando Pirates edged a thrilling 3-2 victory, with the decisive moment coming in the second half when Webster Lichaba was brought down in the box. Up stepped the golden boy, Jomo Sono, who calmly slotted home the penalty to break the 2-2 deadlock at halftime—securing the Buccaneers' first win of the competition in five attempts.

Jerry Sikhosana | 1996 Bobsave Superbowl semi-final vs Kaizer Chiefs

The two giants had previously clashed in the 1988 final, where Orlando Pirates claimed a 2-1 victory. Fast forward to their next major cup meeting, and Chiefs faced an uphill battle against a red-hot Pirates side that had just clinched the CAF Champions League title the year before.

Jerry Sikhosana was unstoppable on the day, tearing through the Amakhosi defence with a sensational hat-trick, while Helman Mkhalele added a fourth to seal a dominant performance. That emphatic win sent the Buccaneers into the final, where they edged past Jomo Cosmos 1-0 to lift their sixth title in the competition.

Thulasizwe Mbuyane | 2011 Nedbank Cup final vs Black Leopards

Their triumph over Jomo Cosmos would prove to be their last Nedbank Cup victory for over a decade, as Pirates had to endure a 13-year wait before reclaiming the title—finally lifting the trophy again in the 2010/11 season after defeating lower-division side Black Leopards in the final.

Thulasizwe Mbuyane stole the show with a brilliant brace, and alongside Isaac Chansa’s contribution, the Buccaneers cruised to a commanding 3-1 win. The Limpopo-based outfit’s only goal came via a Rooi Mahamutsa own goal.

That victory marked a remarkable campaign for Pirates, who went on to complete a historic treble after also clinching the league and MTN8 titles under the guidance of coach Ruud Krol.

Kermit Erasmus | 2014 Nedbank Cup final vs Bidvest Wits

Chasing what would have been their eighth Nedbank Cup title, Pirates entered the final carrying the weight of a previous setback—having already fallen 1-0 to Chiefs in the MTN8 final earlier in the 2014/15 season.

The Clever Boys drew first blood, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Jabulani Shongwe strike, and for the Buccaneers, it felt like deja vu as another cup final appeared to be slipping away.

But Vladimir Vermezovic’s halftime team talk sparked a transformation. Pirates returned to the pitch sharper and more ruthless, turning the tide with three second-half goals—Kermit Erasmus leading the charge with a well-taken brace and Sifiso Myeni solo goal sealing a memorable comeback.

Relebohile Mofokeng | 2024 Nedbank Cup final vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Trailing 1-0 to title favourites Mamelodi Sundowns after a well-taken opener from Themba Zwane,  Pirates found themselves up against it, needing something extraordinary to claw their way back against a rampant Brazilians side that had brushed aside most opponents in the 2023/24 season.

Patrick Maswanganyi showed nerves of steel to calmly convert from the penalty spot and draw the Buccaneers level. But it was a moment of magic from Relebohile Mofokeng that stole the spotlight—his dazzling footwork unlocked the Sundowns defence, and his toe-poked finish zipped past Ronwen Williams to seal a memorable 2-1 victory for Pirates.