By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are gearing up for the first Soweto Derby of the 2023/24 season at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg.
Chiefs have been revitalised after snapping their three-match winless run by securing a 3-2 victory over Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday.
Soweto giants are occupying seventh spot on the DStv Premiership standings – three points behind fifth-placed Moroka Swallows and a win over Pirates will cement the Glamour Boys’ spot in the top eight.
Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson:
“We are playing at FNB Stadium, we should have the tag of being the favourites. It’s Chiefs’ home game and there’s no better place to play it than the Calabash [the FNB Stadium].
“Automatically we are favourites. It’d be a different thing if we were playing Pirates at Orlando Stadium. It’s about us going out there and maintaining the stats, which are five games on the trot.
“It’s also about going out there and playing in front of 60 000 or 80 000 people, and hopefully 60 000 are Chiefs supporters.”
Meanwhile, Pirates also breathed a sigh of relief when they ended a four-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in Tuesday’s league encounter and they had lost two matches in a row.
The Buccaneers are currently placed 10th on the DStv Premiership standings – two points behind Chiefs and a win in the Soweto Derby will see Bucs climb into the top eight if other results go their way.
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro:
“They are making changes already. You can see in the recent games there are certain things that are new, especially in the build-up.
“Also, players like [Keagan] Dolly coming back, he plays an important role in the way that they want to play. The new signing also, [Sibongiseni] Mthethwa, there is a new element.
“But still, it is too early to get a lot of conclusions about what the coach or technical team is looking for with the team. They need time to develop their ideas, to develop their thoughts and whatever happens on Saturday.”
However, Chiefs duo of Ashley du Preez and Sinethemba Sithebe are currently injured, while Pirates trio of Sipho Chaine, Innocent Maela and Paseka Mako are also injured.