By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) biggest fixture is back as struggling Kaizer Chiefs take on title-chasing Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on May 3.
This clash will serve both as a rehearsal for their Nedbank Cup final meeting in Durban on 10 May, and is a significant moment in their respective league campaigns.
Chiefs head into the encounter on the back of a loss against Marumo Gallants in their last league outing– a result that stretched their winless run in the Betway Premiership to six games, with their last victory dating back to 04 March against Magesi FC.
Amakhosi currently occupy position nine on the Betway Premiership standings with 30 points collected in 25 matches. Chiefs will be without Wandile Duba due to a one-match suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi said, “It’s very tough to be in this situation because everywhere I have been, I’ve always played or challenged for the [league] title and it’s tough for everyone, for me, for the players but we know that these types of situations can happen.”
“For the first derby, it was a good and entertaining game. I believe it was a very tough game which was decided on small details in the last minute, but we believe that we deserved better in that game through our performance,” added the 59-year-old tactician.
“I think the game on Saturday will be like any other Soweto derby, it’s going to be a very tough game.
“We are aware of what we can do more than in the first one, and we think the possibilities are open for both teams.”
Soweto is by far South Africa’s biggest historical township, with a population of close to 2 million people. This makes up almost a third of the broader metropolitan area of Johannesburg.
Pirates also head into the encounter on the back of a loss against Sekhukhune United in their last league outing.They will be without defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, after he was sent off in the midweek match.
Pirates are trying to chase down league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and deny them an eighth-straight league championship.
Pirates Coach Jose Riveiro said, “I mean, we are looking for a victory because it is a must for us, it is a must for our fans, it is a must for our club, the same way it is for Kaizer Chiefs. That’s the important thing in a derby. We’re going to celebrate a massive football day one more time.
“I think during the whole season we were quite solid and dominating those situations, but it is true that for whatever reasons in the last games we are suffering a little bit more, and sometimes the opponent is more accurate,” added the Spaniard.
“But I think it is something we are hands-on every week, and it is not or shouldn’t be something to panic about; we will get it right.”
Chiefs and Pirates will always be remembered for being at the forefront of the revolution within South African football and their success continued in a democratic South Africa.
In 1995, Orlando Pirates became the first South African club to win what is now the CAF Champions League – or the African Cup of Champions Clubs as it was then known.
The Buccaneers beat Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas 3-2 on aggregate, winning the second leg 1-0 with a goal from Jerry ‘Legs of Thunder’ Sikhosana.
Chiefs made history as they became the first South African club to win the 27-year-old Caf Cup Winners Cup with a 2-1 aggregate win over Inter Luanda in a fiercely contested final at Ellis Park.