Who is the top goal scorer of all time for Orlando Pirates?

Soweto-born Benedict Vilikazi is the top goal scorer of all time for Orlando Pirates.

Orlando Pirates themselves recognise Vilikazi as their all-time top goalscorer with 52 goals to his name. Some unverified databases put his goal tally for the club at 58.

Orlando Pirates’ top goal scorer of all time

Vilikazi was born in Diepkloof in Soweto on 8 September 1982.

Vilikazi started his formal football journey at Diepkloof Hellenic. The Orlando Pirates junior system later picked him up.

Standing just 1.57 metres tall, Vilikazi made up for his lack of height and physical presence with terrific skills that were the envy of his peers.

Now retired Vilikazi still holds the record for getting on the scoresheet for Orlando Pirates.

Vilikazi played for Orlando Pirates for eight seasons between 1999 and 2007. In July of 2007, he made the move to Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK.

Peak passes for Orlando Pirates’ top goal scorer

However, Vilikazi fell ill early in his time in Denmark and would only play a handful of matches for the club.

He returned to South Africa to join Mamelodi Sundowns but would never recapture the goal-scoring form of his days at Mayfair.

For a time, Vilkazi played alongside the man he would eventually surpass to become Orlando Pirates top goalscorer. He counted Jerry Sikhosana as an idol and played with the famous striker during a second stint at the club for ‘Legs of Thunder’.

Sikhosana banged in over 40 goals for Orlando Pirates. He fell short of making it to 50 goals, leaving in 2001. Less than a decade later his mark would fall to Vilikazi.

Vilikazi’s motivation to make history

Vilikazi had been rejected by both Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs before he joined Orlando Pirates.

He was motivated to prove Jomo Sono wrong after the famous coach was dismissive of his chances due to his height. While Kaizer Chiefs gave him no feedback at all on his rejection.

Settling in to Orlando Pirates and eventually progressing into the first team Vilikazi went through the surreal experience of becoming a football star.

He had been a ball boy handing the likes of Sikhosana the ball and then he was rubbing shoulders with internationals and icons.

Vilikazi was unable to avoid the pitfalls of being an Orlando Pirates star as scandals threatened to derail his career at points.

Scandals and releases

An off-field scandal saw him dragged to court on charges of statutory rape, and while he was acquitted he later apologised for bringing the game into disrepute.

Discipline was a problem for Vilikazi.

He fell out with Mpumalanga Black Aces management while on loan from Sundowns which saw him wind up at Black Leopards for a time.

Vilikazi finished his career playing in Botswana.

Despite being Orlando Pirates’ record goalscorer there is little doubt that he failed to fulfil his potential.