Orlando Pirates’ DDC champions lose 5-0 to Vitesse Under-21

Orlando Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge champions opened their Netherlands Winners Tour with a 5-0 defeat against SBV Vitesse’s Under-21 team on Tuesday. The result made a difficult start to the European trip for the newly crowned champions.

Vitesse took control inside the opening three minutes, scoring the first goal before Pirates had settled. The Dutch side added a second in the 23rd minute and struck again two minutes later to establish a 3-0 advantage.

Pirates improved towards the end of the first half and began the second period with greater purpose. Their hopes of reducing the deficit suffered a major setback in the 65th minute, when Oscar Gqeke was dismissed.

Vitesse scored from a free-kick one minute after the red card and completed the scoring in the 76th minute. Pirates’ starting XI consisted of Koalepe, Fetsha, Kubayi, Derbyshire, Gqeke, Chatburn, Padime, Manana, Nzimande and Zikalala.

The tour follows Pirates’ first DDC title in the club’s history during the 2025/26 season. The young Buccaneers had visited the Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday to watch Ajax Amsterdam play SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie before beginning their own fixtures in the Netherlands.

Pirates are due to face De Graafschap on Thursday. Their tour will then conclude with two matches on Saturday, against Sparta Rotterdam and Yamanashi Gakui High School.