Chaine says Orlando Pirates must embrace being hunted in new Betway Premiership season

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine believes the Betway Premiership champions must adopt a new mentality as they prepare for a season in which “we are the chased and we are not chasing”.

Pirates, who ended a 14-year wait for the league title by pipping Mamelodi Sundowns on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign, open the defence of their crown against Milford FC at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to the media at Rand Stadium on Tuesday, Chaine – recently named Goalkeeper of the Season – said the Soweto club could not rely on what brought them success last term.

“Yes, a different mindset, different season. What worked in 2025/26 won’t work in 2026/27. More from ourselves, more from everyone that is connected to Orlando Pirates,” he said.

“That is the important thing, a different mindset, a mindset of achieving even greater things. A mindset that now we are the chased and we are not chasing. It requires a different, overall, perspective of what you are coming up with.”

Champions ready for new pressure

Chaine expects Pirates to be the team every opponent wants to beat after finally reclaiming the league title, but he insisted that pressure is something the squad must interpret in their own way.

In his view, the demands on the champions are less about clinging to the trophy and more about pursuing wider objectives over the course of the season.

“It depends how you look at it. From your perspective, it might be the same or not but, with us, winning the league championship is not just about the trophy,” he said.

“We have goals, we have aspirations within the season and when you walk towards that, that’s the most important thing, because in setting the bar there, it gives you the league championship rather than the league being the ultimate goal,” Chaine concluded.

Pirates enter new campaign as team to beat

The Buccaneers’ dramatic title triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns has altered the dynamic of the Betway Premiership going into 2026/27, with Pirates now carrying the target on their backs after more than a decade of chasing.

Their season-opener at Orlando Amstel Arena marks the start of a campaign in which rivals across South Africa will look to test the resilience of the defending champions, while Chaine and his team-mates aim to prove last season’s success was no one-off.

The club’s preparations have included strengthening the squad ahead of Saturday’s match against Milford FC, underlining the sense that Orlando Pirates expect an even more demanding title race as they attempt to stay ahead of the pack.