The long wait for the season’s first Soweto Derby comes to an end this weekend when Orlando Pirates host rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership on Saturday. They switch their home base from Orlando to FNB Stadium, as is usually the case for the iconic fixture.
The blockbuster encounter kicks February’s football action off in spectacular fashion as the two biggest sporting brands in South Africa look to write another chapter in the country’s marquee sporting rivalry. It is the first match in a demanding eight-day stretch for the Buccaneers, who have more tricky assignments on the road in the coming week.
Form Guide
Focus however remains on Saturday’s battle for three crucial league points which arrives with the hosts looking to close the gap on the current log leaders, while their visitors attempt to continue their ascent up the table. Expectations from both sets of fans will be high heading into this particular fixture after some confidence-boosting performances over the weekend.
The Buccaneers were away to Richards Bay for their Nedbank Cup opener and returned with a straightforward 3-1 victory. It was their third cup fixture in a row – following a strong finish to the CAF Champions League group stage – and their third away victory after similar results against CR Belouizdad and Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
José Riveiro’s troops now return to league football six points adrift from the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns, who also have a game in hand. The gap could have been narrower if not for a slip-up on the road in their last Premiership encounter where they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City. That defeat was their second in their last five league games with the other also occurring through an identical scoreline, this time at home to Stellenbosch.
The other three matches during this stretch of fixtures have all ended favourably for the Sea Robbers, who have displayed a ruthless streak at times with 12 goals scored in thsi trio of victories that included an 8-1 thumping of Marumo Gallants in what remains their last home league outing.
Their fiercest rivals are the next side to step on their turf, and arrive on the back of a commanding 4-0 win at FNB Stadium against lower league outfit, Free Agents in the Nedbank Cup. It was their second win in as many matches after overcoming a 10-man Sekhukhune United at home in the Premiership the previous week.
Unlike the Sea Robbers, the bulk of Amakhosi’s outings this year have come in the league where they currently sit in fifth place after 14 games played. Their recent form has been just as up and down however, with three wins and two defeats in their last five.
It would not be completely amiss to blame their inconsistent form on recent woes in front of goal, as Chiefs have only found the net four times in five league matches. However, their convincing triumph against the minnows from Eersterust could be the tonic needed to produce a winning performance against their Soweto rivals.
Team News
The in-form Wandile Duba is unlikely to feature for Chiefs after lasting only 45 minutes in their Nedbank Cup triumph. He is a doubt for the clash after picking up a knee injury while his side has been dealt a further blow through suspension, with new signing Tashreeq Morris forced to wait for his Amakhosi debut as he serves a two-match ban after he was red-carded in what turned out to be his final SuperSport United appearance.
The 30-year-old forward is among three new names in the away side’s roster, along with midfielder Thabo Cele and Congolese winger Glody Lilepo. Pirates have had some activity of their own in the recently-concluded transfer window with Katlego Otladisa and Gilberto both out on loan at Sekhukhune United and Petro de Luanda, respectively.
A noteworthy boost for the home side comes in the form of defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, who is again eligible for selection. The defender sat out the trip to KZN, serving out his one-match suspension picked up through an accumulation of yellow cards.
Key Players
Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The 20-year-old already possesses an impressive catalog of standout performances in big games, and could add a Soweto Derby masterclass to the list. Effective across the attacking third, he comes into the fixture in impressive form after scoring in three consecutive CAF Champions League matches before bagging two Nedbank Cup assists in Pirates’ most recent outing.
Mduduzi Shabalala (Kaizer Chiefs): Shabalala has long established himself as one to look out for in the future, and appears to be making significant strides towards realising his early promise. At 21, the young forward is one of Chiefs’ most influential attackers and his effect in the final third is reflected through six goal contributions this season.
Head-to-Head
The Soweto Derby has rarely been accused of not living up to its prestigious billing and its most recent editions have more than delivered the expected fireworks. Saturday’s encounter will be taking place nearly six years to the day since the fixture last failed to produce a winner.
It was Pirates who emerged victorious home and away last season, beating Chiefs 1-0 through Evidence Makgopa’s first-half strike before completing the double by edging a 3-2 thriller, twice coming from behind before pulling clear. Those two results mean that they go into the upcoming clash with a three-match winning streak across competitions, having also triumphed in their most recent cup encounter.
While Saturday’s hosts hold the bragging rights, their home derbies have been tight of late as far as head-to-head results are concerned. Each side has won seven out of the last 20 such encounters, sharing the spoils on six occasions. The visitors slightly edge the goal-scoring stakes with 25 goals to the Buccaneers’ 24.
