As Orlando Pirates prepare for the highly-anticipated Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs this Sunday, they do so armed with impressive scoring form that has propelled them close to a club-record goal tally in the current 30-match Betway Premiership season.
The Buccaneers have found the back of the net 16 times across their last four games, averaging four goals per match, which has taken their seasonal total to 50 goals in just 25 outings.
This puts them a mere two goals shy of the club’s record for a 30-game season, which stands at 52 goals achieved during the 2004/05 campaign, a season they ultimately finished as runners-up in the league.
Furthermore, they are on track to potentially surpass the all-time record set by Mamelodi Sundowns last season, where the team netted 59 goals in a shortened 28-match season following Royal AM’s withdrawal. If Pirates maintain their current scoring rate, they could tally up to 60 goals this season.
The highest goal count ever recorded by Pirates in a Betway Premiership season is 72, which they achieved in 34 matches during the 1999/2000 season, yet they still finished the campaign 11 points adrift of champions Sundowns.
In stark contrast, the lowest number of goals scored by the Pirates in a single campaign was a mere 26 in the 2009/10 season, which, nevertheless, still secured them a fifth-place finish.
This season, Pirates have demonstrated a balanced scoring approach, with Relebohile Mofokeng leading the charge with 10 goals. He’s trailed by Oswin Appollis, who has netted eight, and Patrick Maswanganyi with six, none of whom are traditional strikers.
Meanwhile, Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi, and Yanele Mbuthuma have each contributed five goals in the league.
Pirates have historically fared well against the Chiefs, winning six of the last seven encounters between the two Soweto sides, scoring an impressive 12 goals in their last five meetings — an average of over two goals per game.
Goals in a Betway Premiership season by Orlando Pirates
34-GAME SEASON
1996/97 – 43
1997/98 – 52
1998/99 – 55
1999/00 – 72
2000/01 – 60
2001/02 – 43
30-GAME SEASON
2002/03 – 41
2003/04 – 45
2004/05 – 52
2005/06 – 39
2006/07 – 36
2007/08 – 38
2008/09 – 37
2009/10 – 26
2010/11 – 41
2011/12 – 40
2012/13 – 39
2013/14 – 30
2014/15 – 46
2015/16 – 38
2016/17 – 29
2017/18 – 41
2018/19 – 44
2019/20 – 40
2020/21 – 33
2021/22 – 34
2022/23 – 40
2023/24 – 44
2024/25 – 43*
2025/26 – 50**
* A 28-match season
** Five games remaining
Compiled by SportArena.au
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
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