Ahead of this week’s pivotal Carling Knockout Round of 16 fixtures, the
powerful voice of the Orlando Pirates supporter base is resonating loud and
clear. In a clear display of fan engagement and club pride, Buccaneers
players are dominating the latest fan-voted All Star XI leaderboard,
occupying the majority of positions as voting continues to heat up.
The current voting numbers paint a vivid picture of the Sea of Gold and
Black’s influence. While Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen currently leads the
race for the goalkeeper spot with 7,846 votes, the outfield is awash with
Pirates talent. A formidable bloc of Buccaneers—including Jabulani Mokone
(1,912), Simphiwe Masilela (1,219), Simphiwe Selepe (1,672), and Sihle Nduli
(1,686)—are featuring heavily in the defensive and midfield categories,
creating a core of fan-approved players in the hypothetical lineup.
The voting is not without its competition, however. Rivals Kaizer Chiefs
have also mounted a significant campaign, with Thulani Mabaso (1,279),
Khanyisa Mayo (1,735), and Naleen Hlongwane (2,842) proudly flying the
Amakhosi flag and securing their own spots in the fan-selected team. The
lineup is rounded out by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Vincent Sithole (1,141) and
Siwelele duo Aphiwe Baliti (391) and Yandisa Mfolotsi (370), demonstrating a
wide spread of support across the PSL.
With the voting window still open, the emerging lineup serves as a potent
testament to the size and passion of the Orlando Pirates fanbase, who are
demonstrating a determined effort to see their club’s stars recognized in
the upcoming showcase. As the Carling Knockout action kicks off this week,
it remains to be seen if the players who have won the popularity contest can
translate that fan-driven momentum into match-winning performances on the
pitch.
