Soweto Derby: Legends who fired up the game

The Soweto derby is full of legendary performances and players who have made their name in the clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Catch the action live on SS PSL, DStv Compact and SS Variety 4 (Access). Match buildup starts at 2pm.

Ahead of Saturday’s 181st derby, here is supersport.com’s selection of 10 of the best players on either side and some of their achievements

NELSON DLADLA: The 1976 league match played at KwaThema that was an emotive meeting just weeks after the death of Ewert Nene and made even more poignant because it was marked the debut of Dladla.

Nene, the long-time Chiefs manager, had been killed by thugs when he went to the Springs township to sign Dladla, who repaid the memory of Nene with the ‘man of the match’ performance. ‘Teenage’ stayed at Chiefs for more than a decade, winning multiple titles.

HENRY KHUMALO: Second-half substitute Khumalo was given a heroes’ reception at the end of the second leg of the 1981 Champions of Champions final at the Orlando Stadium after engineering a remarkable victory for Pirates, who were two goals down on aggregate before he was brought on and changed the outcome of the game. ‘Mtofi’ came back to win the trophy for the Buccaneers.

WEBSTER LICHABA: The 1975 Life Challenge Cup final was physical battle of attrition, punctuated by numerous fouls, and settled six minutes into extra time by Lichaba, who had been one of Pirates’ stars of the season and was a fitting author of Pirates’ third successive victory in the Life Challenge Cup final.

Lichaba, after dribbling past two defenders, hit a drive that Chiefs goalkeeper Jimmy Bene watched as it sailed into his net. The goal proved decisive after the game had been forced into extra-time, level at 1-1.

PULE NTSOELENGOE: Arguably the best player ever produced in South Africa, ‘Ace’ has the record number of goals in the tussle between the two Soweto giants.

His total of 19 goals for Chiefs over a span of 17 years playing in the derby will likely never be broken. Ntsoelengoe was there at the start of the rivalry with two goals in the very first game between the two clubs in January 1970, when Pirates won 6-4, and kept up his scoring habits right through to the 1982 Mainstay Cup semifinal, where Chiefs triumphed 2-1.

The crafty playmaker competed for another six years in the derby, making his last appearance in 1988 for a remarkable 18 years of derby action. He sadly died in 2006 at the age of 54.

FANI MADIDA: The striker scored several dramatic late goals for Chiefs against Pirates, notably in the 1987 Mainstay Cup semifinal and when Chiefs came back from two goals down to win a thrilling Coca-Cola Cup first round game after extra time in 1992. In total, Madida, who went onto a successful career in Turkey, netted six derby goals.

LESLEY MANYATHELA: The young striker, who tragically passed away in car crash in 2003, put his individual seal on the derby in December 2001 when he showed his increasing maturity and deadly composure by twice tucking the ball beyond Brian Baloyi from close range. The first goal came in the 22nd minute and his second 50 minutes later as Pirates went on to post a 3-0 win against a struggling Chiefs.

MARKS MAPONYANE: In October, 1994, Maponyane joined an elite band who had scored in the derby in the colours of both sides. Before him only Blessing Mgidi, Jerry Sadike and Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse had achieved the feat. Maponyane scored 10 derby goals for Chiefs from his debut in 1981 but towards the end of his career went t Dynamos and then Pirates.

JERRY SIKHOSANA: In the 1996 BoB Save Super Bowl semifinal, Sikhosana scored the first hat-trick in 15 years in the derby match as he catapulted Pirates to the cup final. The hat-trick was completed by the 47th minute. Sikhosana opened the score in the 18th minute and made it 2-0 just before halftime. Then he got his third after the break as Pirates went on to beat Jomo Cosmos in the final three weeks later.

JOMO SONO: Schoolboy wizard Sono was the hero of the day as Pirates took the points with a second-half winner from Alfred ‘Russia’ Jacobs in the October, 1972 derby. Sono was carried high on the shoulders of the supporters after the win and the fans formed a guard of honour for the Pirates players as they left the stadium after the game. He would go onto score nine derby goals, the most by any Pirates player.

SIPHIWE TSHABALALA: Tshabalala is a Chiefs legend who served the club with distinction for well over a decade. He did not have it all his own way in the derby but remains a key part of the history of the fixture after playing a Premier Soccer League record 31 times (29 starts, two sub appearances) and scoring four goals.

He won seven of the 31 games he played in a Chiefs shirt against Pirates, with 15 draws and nine defeats.