Orlando Pirates become the first club to win both Carling Tournaments in a single season, etching their names into the annals of South African football history with a clinical 2-0 victory over the Carling All-Stars. In a festive atmosphere at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2025, the Buccaneers demonstrated their superior depth and tactical discipline, capping off a remarkable year for the Soweto giants.
This victory is not merely another piece of silverware for the trophy cabinet; it represents a unique dominance in the Carling-sponsored competitions. Having already secured the Carling Knockout Cup earlier in the season, this triumph in the Carling Black Label Cup exhibition ensures that Orlando Pirates stand alone as the undisputed kings of this format. Under the guidance of head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the team has navigated a grueling schedule to deliver joy to the “Happy People” once again.
Buccaneers Make Carling Cup History in Durban
The setting for this historic encounter could not have been more perfect. Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium was a cauldron of noise and color, packed to the rafters with football-loving fans who had voted for their unique Carling All-Stars starting XI. The exhibition match, which traditionally pits a fan-selected team against the winners of the Carling Knockout champions, serves as the curtain-closer for domestic football before the festive break.
For Orlando Pirates, the stakes were higher than a simple friendly. They were chasing a “Carling Double,” a feat never before achieved since the inception of this specific format in 2023. By dispatching the star-studded selection 2-0, they validated their status as the premier cup team in the country. This victory capped off a sensational few months for the club, which had already picked up two major trophies earlier in the season—the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup.
A Scrappy Start to Proceedings
With the hosts’ AFCON-bound stars unavailable due to national team commitments at the High Performance Centre, new combinations were implemented by both dugouts. This led to a somewhat disjointed opening to the game. The first half was largely a scrappy affair on a gloomy afternoon in Durban, with neither side able to find a rhythm immediately.
Chances were few and far between throughout the opening 45 minutes. Bucs goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi was initially the busier of the two shot-stoppers, called into action early to preserve his clean sheet. The 27-year-old dealt confidently with a dangerous-looking ball from a third-minute free kick floated in by Kaizer Chiefs prodigy Mfundo Vilakazi. He was also watchful as Marcello De Allende, the Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker operating in the heart of the All-Stars midfield, went narrowly wide with a direct set piece from a fair distance out.
The Carling All-Stars remained on the ascendancy throughout the remainder of the first period. They conjured up chances with the likes of Vilakazi and Allende giving the Orlando Pirates defence a few heart-stopping moments. However, the defensive pairing, marshaled by Thabiso Sesane and Olisa Ndah, stood firm, ensuring the sides went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
Second Half: The Tide Turns
After finishing the first period still deadlocked, it was the men in red—Orlando Pirates playing in their alternate strip—who came out guns blazing in the second period. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made decisive tactical tweaks that saw his side pile the pressure on the Soweto Giants’ opponents.
The All-Stars did have a golden opportunity to spoil the party just after the hour mark. Mduduzi Shabalala, the Kaizer Chiefs attacker, found himself in space, but Pirates defender Lebone Seema was on hand to get a crucial touch, directing the effort off target. It was a close call that served as a wake-up call for the Carling Knockout champions.
Substitutes Steal the Show
The turning point of the match highlighted the incredible depth at Abdeslam Ouaddou‘s disposal. Just a minute after the scare in the Pirates half, a second-half replacement at the other end had a telling impact on the scorecard.
Skipper Deon Hotto, whose experience was vital on the day, produced an excellent pass into the path of substitute striker Sifiso Luthuli. Luthuli, who has been working hard to break into the starting lineup, needed a single touch to chip goalkeeper Naphtali Mokoena for the opener in the 67th minute. The goal sent the Pirates faithful into raptures and broke the All-Stars’ resistance.
The impact of the bench was undeniable. Just seconds later, the veteran winger Hotto created another chance for another Bucs forward in Boitumelo Radiopane. His effort from point-blank range was initially kept out by Mokoena, but the warning signs were flashing red for the All-Stars.
Radiopane Seals the Victory
By the 75th minute, the tide had turned well into the Carling Knockout champions’ favour, as they dominated the closing stages of the contest. They were rewarded with a bit of magic from Boitumelo Radiopane in the 80th minute.
Displaying impressive strength, Radiopane brushed off a challenge from a seasoned defender before finishing clinically past the outstretched Mokoena to send his side 2-0 up with just 10 minutes to go. It was a moment of individual brilliance that underscored why the Pirates academy graduate is so highly rated.
Now trailing significantly with the clock ticking, the Carling All-Stars made a desperate attempts to halve their deficit. Neither former Bucs midfielder Phillip Ndlondlo nor Shabalala could find their bearings with last-gasp attempts at pulling one back. Orlando Pirates managed the game professionally, hanging onto their lead to complete a clinical performance.
Abdeslam Ouaddou: The Architect of Success
The victory further cements the growing legacy of manager Abdeslam Ouaddou. Since being named Pirates manager in the summer, replacing Jose Riveiro, Ouaddou has been nothing short of a revelation. He has now won three titles in his short tenure: the MTN8, the Carling Knockout Cup, and now the Carling Black Label Cup.
Abdeslam Ouaddou has instilled a winning mentality in the squad, proving that the team can perform even without their key Bafana Bafana players. Speaking after the match, the coach praised the resilience of his “fringe” players.
“To see players like Luthuli and Radiopane step up in a stadium like Moses Mabhida Stadium is fantastic,” Ouaddou noted. “We are building a squad where everyone is ready to fight for the badge. Orlando Pirates become the first club to win both Carling Tournaments, and that is a credit to the hard work of the entire technical team.”
The Challenge of the Carling All-Stars
It is worth noting the quality of the opposition. Every season, the winners of the Carling Knockout face a selection side made of players from various Betway Premiership teams and development players from the DSTV Diski Challenge. This year’s Carling All-Stars team was led by former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi, a tactician known for his expansive style of play.
Despite the loss, the All-Stars gave a good account of themselves, particularly in the first half. Players like Marcello De Allende and Phillip Ndlondlo controlled the tempo early on, but the lack of cohesion—a natural result of being a team assembled by fan votes—eventually showed against the drilled unit of Orlando Pirates.
Conclusion: A Festive Season to Remember
As the referee blew the final whistle at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the celebrations began in earnest. Orlando Pirates had successfully navigated a tricky fixture to ensure they entered the festive season break with high morale.
The club has set a new record, adding the Carling Black Label Cup to their earlier Carling Knockout triumph. For the fans, the “Ghost,” this victory is the perfect Christmas gift. As the team heads into the break, the rest of the league will be looking nervously at a Pirates side that seems to have forgotten how to lose, regardless of who is in the starting lineup.
Orlando Pirates become the first club to win both Carling Tournaments, a phrase that will be repeated with pride across Soweto and beyond as 2025 draws to a close.
Here are references from mainstream media supporting the article, including direct links to the reports.
1. Goal.com South Africa
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Title: Three Trophies In Three Months! Orlando Pirates make history as Bucs products score to humble All-Stars team in Carling Black Label Cup
2. The Citizen
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Title: Pirates shoot down All Stars to claim Carling Black Label Cup
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