Pirates' Record Rout and Mofokeng Magic Light Up the Betway Premiership as Sundowns Chase History
Relebohile Mofokeng scored the first hat-trick of his career
The Betway Premiership served up a weekend of records, ruthless attacking football and defensive nightmares in mid-March 2026. Orlando Pirates delivered one of the most emphatic away performances in league history, while young star Relebohile Mofokeng etched his name into the headlines. Elsewhere, Marumo Gallants continued their unwanted streak of leaky defending, and Mamelodi Sundowns matched a historic benchmark with a flawless start to the calendar year.
Pirates Produce the Biggest Away Thrashing in Their PSL History
On Sunday 22 March at Mbombela Stadium, Orlando Pirates dismantled TS Galaxy 6-0 in a result that sent shockwaves through the league. The Buccaneers' biggest-ever away league win in the PSL era came against a Rockets side that had shown decent defensive form earlier in the campaign — until goalkeeper Ira Tape endured a nightmare afternoon littered with errors.
The visitors were clinical from the first whistle. Goals flew in from all angles: an own goal by Mlungisi Mbunjana (described by some as one of the more bizarre you’ll ever see), strikes from Tshepang Moremi and Kamogelo Sebelebele, and — most impressively — a first-half lead that never looked like being pegged back. TS Galaxy were reduced to 10 men, but by then the damage was already done. The 6-0 scoreline not only propelled Pirates back to the top of the table on 51 points from 23 games but also underlined their title credentials in the race with Sundowns.
Mofokeng Joins Elite Company with First Pirates Hat-Trick in Over a Year
At the heart of the demolition was 20-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng, who bagged a sensational hat-trick — his first at senior level. The teenage sensation opened his account early, added a second before half-time, and completed his treble in the second half to earn Man of the Match honours.
Mofokeng becomes the first Orlando Pirates player to score a league hat-trick since Tshegofatso Mabasa in December 2024. He is also only the second player to achieve the feat in the 2025/26 season, following Puso Dithejane’s treble for his side against Chippa United back in August.
Post-match, the modest youngster admitted he had been “waiting for this moment” and that the treble would give him a huge confidence boost heading into the business end of the campaign.
Marumo Gallants’ Clean-Sheet Drought Reaches Historic Proportions
While Pirates were celebrating, Marumo Gallants were suffering in silence. The Limpopo side remain the only team in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership to have conceded at least one goal in every single league fixture this season. According to Opta stats, only one team in the entire history of the PSL has gone longer without recording a clean sheet from the opening whistle of a campaign.
Their defensive fragility has left them battling near the foot of the table and facing an uphill fight to avoid relegation.
Sundowns Match All-Time Record with Eight Straight Wins to Open 2026
Not to be outdone, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns have been equally relentless. The Brazilians have won their first eight league matches of 2026 — a run that matches the joint-longest winning streak by any PSL team from the start of a calendar year.
With Pirates now sitting just one point clear at the summit, the title race is hotter than ever. Both sides have shown they can produce moments of brilliance — Pirates through devastating attacking displays, Sundowns through relentless consistency.
As the season hurtles towards its climax, one thing is clear: the Betway Premiership is delivering football worthy of the big stage. Whether it’s Mofokeng’s rising stardom, Pirates’ record-breaking statement, or Sundowns’ pursuit of history, South African fans are being treated to a memorable campaign.
