Orlando Pirates finished their 2024/25 season with a 1-1 draw against Magesi, as captain Innocent Maela bid farewell at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
In what was a dead rubber fixture with Pirates secured in second place and Magesi safe from relegation and all but SuperSport United and Golden Arrows’ 45 minutes to be played tomorrow – there was not much to play for.
Interim coach Mandla Ncikazi offered captain Maela a start, with this website previously confirming he’s set to move into a non-playing role at the end of the season, drawing an end to his professional career at the age of 32.
Patrick Maswanganyi got the scoring underway at eSgodini as early as the seventh minute, but the resilent visitors, who famously beat Pirates and Sundowns en route to winning the Carling Knockout title this season, showed their usual never say die attitude.
Under Owen da Gama, who replaced Clinton Larsen, the Premiership debutants were a team reborn and it was no surprise when Edmore Chirambadare levelled matters before the break and they managed to hold on for the point to finish with 31 points this season.
Meanwhile, Pirates end their league campaign with a record 61 points, despite playing two games fewer than a regular season due to Royal AM’s expulsion from the league. However, they missed out on a new records points tally, equalling their best from 2000/01 and 2002/03.
Check out the updated log in our match centre.
And while they secure CAF Champions League football for a third consecutive season, they end up 12 points behind league winners Mamelodi Sundowns, while Magesi ended on 31 points – just two behind the top eight.
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