Pirates go for club history in Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates go into Saturday’s Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium looking for a club first as the only Buccaneers side to defeat Kaizer Chiefs four times in a row in the 55-year history of South Africa’s greatest sporting rivalry. Catch the action live on SS PSL, DStv Compact and SS Variety 4 (Access). Match buildup starts at 2pm CAT.

Coach Jose Riveiro’s team won both league games last season and the Nedbank Cup semifinal 2023 and are now seeking an unprecedented fourth successive victory that would not only give them major bragging rights, but help in their bid for the Betway Premiership title.

It has been a major turnaround in fortunes. Before embarking on their current winning run, Chiefs had claimed victory in five Derby games in a row.

Pirates have since turned the tables, and it means there has been no draw in a competitive fixture between the teams since a 2-2 stalemate in the Telkom Knockout in 2019 that the AmaKhosi won on penalties.

That is a run of 13 games where there has been one set of fans going home happy, with Pirates recording six wins in that time and Chiefs seven.

The momentum is with The Buccaneers through after their hat-trick of successes and their fine form this season.

They have already played 27 games this season, recording 20 wins, four draws and just three losses. Those defeats came at home to Magesi FC and Stellenbosch FC, and away at Cape Town City.

They are yet to be involved in a draw in the league (W9 L2), and trail leaders Sundowns by six points, albeit with a game in hand.

It has been a tougher voyage of discovery for Chiefs under new coach Nasreddine Nabi, though to be fair he is still learning about his players and the league, and they about him.

It was never likely to be a smooth transition to success after their 10th-place finish last season, and there have been positive signs. A Soweto Derby win would be huge for him.

Chiefs have featured in 17 games this campaign in all competition and won eight, drawn three and lost six. That is a full 10 games fewer than Pirates, who have also had to crisscross the continent in CAF Champions League action.

The odd thing with this tie being played at Chiefs’ nominated home ground, is that the ‘home’ team is actually and the ‘away’ team is at home. But Pirates have got used to playing here over the years.

Pirates have any number of match-winners on their side, and not just in attack. The player who has featured for the most minutes so far this campaign is defender Thabiso Sesane, who have been involved in every one of their 27 fixtures. That shows he is a key part of the team.

The evergreen Deon Hotto has played in 26, and the rising star of South African football, Relebohile Mofokeng, has also missed just a single game.

His eight goals this campaign makes him the second highest scorer for the side behind Tshegofatso Mabasa (9) and in front of Evidence Makgopa (7).

Pirates have certainly spread the goals around with 14 different scorers.

Mohau Nkota should make his Soweto Derby debut and has already shown himself to be a player for the big occasion, with some crucial goals in domestic and continental football.

With Mofokeng on the left wing and Nkota on the right, and playmaker Patrick Maswanganyi hovering just behind the striker, that is a lot for the Chiefs defence to handle, especially as only two clubs, Marumo Gallants (23) and AmaZulu (19) have conceded more than Chiefs’ 16 goals.

The flip side of that is that only Sundowns (24) and Pirates (22) have scored more than Chiefs 17 strikes. We should at least see goals, probably at either end.

Midfielder Yusuf Maart and young striker Wandile Duba have been ever-presents for Chiefs this season with 17 appearances, though the latter will not feature having limped off in the 4-0 win over Free Agents last week.

They have had nine different scorers and burly forward Ranga Chivaviro (5) leading the way, ahead of Duba and Mdu Shabalala (4 each).

They have considerably fewer miles in their legs with centre-back Rushwin Dortley (1 327) racking up the most minutes on the pitch.

Chiefs will likely rely on the exuberance of youth, with Shabalala and possibly Mfundo Vilakazi to lead the way in the absence of Duba.

Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has played down his side’s tag as favourites and believes there is not all that much to choose between the sides.

“The margins between the two teams are very narrow, defensively we’re almost similar, chance creation we are similar, but the only difference is on goals conceded,” said Ncikazi.

“They have conceded more but every other stat is equal if I were to use stat. So, the margins between the two teams are not as big except for log positions and the goals conceded.

“So, we’ll try and focus on what we think we’re doing better than them where we have conceded less but again you must remember it’s a derby. Form, records don’t work.

“It’s what happens on the day and we’ll try to focus on our performances so that we can get a result.”

Chiefs could hand a debut to new midfielder Thabo Cele, who signed this week, while striker Tashreeq Morris is suspended and it is unclear whether Congolese winger Makabi Lilepo has received his work permit.