The Buccaneers have generally had an excellent record against teams from the lower leagues since the competition was first played in its current guise in 2008, but will be wary of taking their fired-up opponents lightly.
TTM, it should be remembered, made the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup as a second-tier side in 2022, though this is not the same club that has the TTM name on the trophy from victory in 2021, that is Marumo Gallants.
Here is a look back at all 15 clashes for Pirates against non-topflight teams in the previous 18 editions.
2010 – ORLANDO PIRATES 4-0 ALS PUK TUWANA (LAST 16)
Third-tier ALS Puk Tuwana had sent Steve Komphela’s Platinum Stars packing in the previous round in a major shock, the club essentially a reserve team for Mamelodi Sundowns with Ted Dumitru having some input and the likes of Jabulani Shongwe in the lineup. But they found Pirates in fine form as Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Phenyo Mongala, Ndumiso Mabena and Dikgang Mabalane all scored before halftime.
2011 – UNITED FC 1-3 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 16)
Second-tier United FC were tricky customers with coach Dan Malesela at the helm, but after profiting from an early own goal, Pirates turned the screw as Oupa Manyisa and Mabalane were on target in a comfortable win in the end.
2011 – ORLANDO PIRATES 3-1 BLACK LEOPARDS (FINAL)
Pirates met Lidoda Duvha in the final that same season and went behind to a Rooi Mahamutsa own goal, but stormed back as Isaac Chansa and Mabalane (two), always the man for the big occasion, scored in the final 18 minutes to lift the trophy.
2012 – ETHEKWINI COASTAL 0-1 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
Pirates opened the defence of their campaign against third-tier opposition from KwaZulu-Natal and needed an 86th minute winner from Siyabonga Sangweni to claim victory, a tough outing against the ABC Motsepe League side.
2013 – MALUTI FET COLLEGE 4-1 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
The only time Pirates have lost to lower league opponents and it might have been worse as the home side missed a penalty. A result that is still hard to explain, The Buccaneers perhaps took their opponents too lightly. Manyisa scored for them just before the hour-mark.
2014 – THANDA ROYAL ZULU 3-3 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
Pirates got lucky in this one too against lower league opponents as they needed two injury-time goals at the end of the game to force extra-time. Trailing 2-0, Ayanda Gcaba scored in the 91st minute to pull a goal back, before Helder Pelembe netted again on 94 minutes. Kermit Erasmus put them ahead in extra-time, but they were pegged back again and needed penalties to claim the tie. It was another massive scare for the team.
2015 – ORLANDO PIRATES 4-0 TORNADO FC (LAST 32)
Eastern Cape third-tier side Tornado had former Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana in charge as coach, but they were no match for The Buccaneers on the day. Lennox Bacela scored an early penalty, Thandani Ntshumayelo had them 2-0 up at halftime, before he added another in the second half and Sifiso Myeni got a fourth.
2017 – EC BEES 1-3 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
A slight scare but a routine win in the end as Pirates travelled to the Eastern Cape to face Bees. Dove Wome had them ahead early before Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza made the game safe with second half goals.
2021 – ORLANDO PIRATES 1-0 UTHONGATHI (LAST 32)
It would be another four years before Pirates faced lower league opponents again as they edged second-tier Uthongathi 1-0 thanks to a second half goal from Gabadinho Mhango.
2023 – ALL STARS 0-2 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
Pirates started their successful 2023 campaign with a tricky away trip to second-tier All Stars. After a goalless first half, they netted through Monnapule Saleng and Thembinkosi Lorch to take the win.
2023 – ORLANDO PIRATES 2-1 VENDA FC (LAST 16)
Pirates were taken to extra-time by second-tier Venda FC as Erasmus had them in front, but it was not enough to complete the job in the 90 minutes. Lorch scored the winner on 113 minutes.
2023 – DONDOL STARS 1-1 ORLANDO PIRATES (QUARTERFINALS)
Third-tier Stars had already dumped SuperSport United and AmaZulu out of the competition in the previous two rounds, so this was never going to be an easy tie. And so it proved as Lorch put the Buccaneers ahead, only for Stars to equalise two minutes later. The game went to penalties and Pirates scored all of theirs to triumph 5-4 via spot-kicks.
2024 – CRYSTAL LAKE 0-6 ORLANDO PIRATES (LAST 32)
A gentle opening for Pirates in the defence of their title as they took on Mpumalanga fourth-tier side Crystal Lake. It was always going to be a big mismatch and so it proved as Pirates raced into a 4-0 lead after 33 minutes and then added two more in the second half. They went ahead thanks to an early own goal, before Tapelo Xoki (two, one penalty), Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Tshegofatso Mabasa all scored.
2024 – ORLANDO PIRATES 4-0 HUNGRY LIONS (LAST 16)
The Buccaneers faced second-tier Hungry Lions in the next round and once again claimed a comprehensive win on their way to defending their title. An own goal from Lions’ Morena Monaheng had Pirates in front midway through the first half, before Mabasa bagged a brace and Saleng got the other.
2025 – ORLANDO PIRATES 3-1 BAROKA FC (LAST 16)
Pirates only faced one lower league side on their way to final defeat in the 2025 Nedbank Cup and they eased past second-tier Baroka FC 3-1 thanks to Mabasa’s hat-trick. Those goals made him the leading scorer for Pirates in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 with eight in total. He has since moved on loan to Stellenbosch FC.
