Orlando Pirates have officially unveiled their new home-and-away kit ahead of the 2019-20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.

The last time Orlando Pirates wore a white home jersey with black stripes, they brought the country to its feet by being twice crowned kings of Africa in a purple patch of continental dominance following an improbable Champions League campaign triumph in 1995 and a Super Cup win in 1996.

This week, the Buccaneers launched the new home-and-away kit ahead of the 2019-20 season – and have returned to the colours which heralded the announcement of the Soweto Giants on the continental stage.

Pirates’ new home shirt features the return of the white colourway with black striping, which not only pays homage to the club’s heritage and traditional colours, but also marks the first time that adidas has created a white jersey that incorporates black stripes.

For the away shirt, adidas has retained the red colour from last season, with inset black motifs, a black v-neck collar and the trademark three stripes down the sides of the jersey.

The new kit will be seen on-field for the first time on 27 July, when the Mighty Buccaneers lock horns with Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the season-opening Carling Black Label Cup.

‘You can never truly move forward if you don’t know where you’ve been, and in order for us to unlock the potential of a successful future we need to draw inspiration from our past successes, because it’s those learnings from the past which guide our next steps,’ said Tokoloho Moeketsi, Orlando Pirates brand activation manager.

‘We remember iconic players who sported this look and made their indelible mark on this great club, setting the tone for what we went on to achieve since 1995. It’s with that very inspiration that we look to the class of 2019-20, and hope that when they don this fresh look, they can draw from those icons and leave their own mark which will remain long after they are gone,’ concluded Moeketsi.

Commenting on behalf of adidas SA, Paul Bester, senior brand activation manager, said: “We’ve gone back into the club’s archives to draw inspiration for this season’s kit. Fans can expect a modern, contemporary design that stays true to the roots of the club.’

The new Orlando Pirates kit will be available on 25 July at the Pirates Shop at Orlando Stadium, and on 1 August in selected sports retailers across the country at a retail price of R799.