Orlando Pirates Superfan Fires Back After Club Documentary Brands Her a ‘Hater’
A self proclaimed Orlando Pirates superfan has accused the club of misrepresenting her in its latest documentary after a short video clip sparked a wave of online abuse and left some supporters questioning her loyalty.
Ashley Pregueiro says she has become the target of angry Pirates fans after the club’s Bucs Camp documentary used footage of her while discussing criticism surrounding the team’s league triumph. The lifelong Buccaneers supporter insists the clip was taken completely out of context and unfairly portrayed her as one of the club’s critics.
The controversy centres on comments made by Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi, who addressed what he described as criticism directed at the club despite its successful season.
During the documentary, viewers were shown a clip of Pregueiro laughing while speaking about Pirates securing their final victory against Orbit College through two own goals. The footage was presented as part of a broader discussion about so called “haters” and double standards surrounding the club’s title winning campaign.
Pregueiro says that portrayal could not be further from the truth.
“So Orlando Pirates, my club, did me dirty,” she said in a video shared on social media.
“I woke up to people calling me a hater. How can I hate Orlando Pirates when I’m a fan of the club?”
According to Pregueiro, the clip originated from a single video she recorded during the season in which she found humour in the unusual manner of Pirates’ victory.
“I laughed because I thought it was funny that Pirates won the league with two own goals. But they took that one clip and used it to push the narrative about ‘haters’ and double standards.”
She maintains that the documentary overlooked months of content in which she passionately celebrated the club’s performances and successes throughout the campaign.
“I understand documentaries need a storyline, but they used me, a Pirates fan, to support that narrative.”
The fallout has extended beyond social media criticism. Pregueiro revealed that she has received hostile messages from some supporters, including one that read: “We found you, hater. We are coming for you.”
She condemned the abuse and said the reaction has been deeply upsetting.
“I don’t appreciate it at all.”
Despite the controversy, Pregueiro remains unwavering in her support for Orlando Pirates and insists her loyalty has never been in doubt.
“I was one of the happiest Pirates fans last season. If you watch all my videos, you’ll see how much I enjoyed the journey. It was a fantastic season.”
The incident has reignited debate about how documentary footage is edited and whether isolated moments can create narratives that do not fully reflect the views or intentions of those featured. For Pregueiro, the issue is not about criticism of the club, but about ensuring that supporters are represented fairly.
