Big Match Feature: Soweto Derby

The weekend’s DStv Premiership action has one undoubted stand-out fixture: the Soweto Derby of Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday 6 November 2021. Kick-off is at 3.30pm CAT.

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This match is always a high-pressure affair, but that will be especially pronounced this time around, with both teams struggling to establish themselves even as title contenders – usually the bare minimum demanded by their supporters.

Chiefs come into the clash having suffered a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Stellenbosch FC in midweek, with a stunning Ashley Du Preez goal giving the Cape side a hard-fought but deserved victory at Soccer City.

The result means the Amakhosi have lost all momentum built by previous back-to-back wins over Chippa United and SuperSport United – performances which suggested that they had turned a corner under coach Stuart Baxter but may have been no more than a false dawn.

Pirates, meanwhile, may have claimed a 2-1 home win over Sekhukhune United in midweek, but they have taken only two more points than their arch rivals this season and remain off the pace of even the surprise chasing duo of Stellenbosch and Royal AM, let alone leaders and imperious champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Yet the Buccaneers will take heart from their victory over Sekhukhune, which saw them come from behind thanks to goals from Linda Mntambo and Kabelo Dlamini, thereby snapping a four-game winless streak in the Premiership and ensuring they enter the Derby with more of a bounce.

DUELS TO WATCH

COLE ALEXANDER V LINDA MNTAMBO

Mntambo has enjoyed a major resurgence in form in recent weeks, adding a crispness and variety to Pirates’ passing game that makes them a more dangerous prospect in attack. Chiefs’ Alexander will be tasked with closing down the space and time for Mntambo to operate in.

ERIC MATHOHO V TSHEGOFATSO MABASA

Mathoho has not enjoyed a vintage season thus far for Chiefs, but this match presents him with an opportunity to turn the corner by quelling the threat of Mabasa, who has looked a likely scorer whenever given the chance to lead the line for the Buccaneers.

KEAGAN DOLLY V PASEKA MAKO

Dolly has shown glimpses of brilliance in his first few months in a Chiefs jersey, with his ability to create scoring chances and cut apart a defence with one visionary pass. Yet he will come up against a resilient and determined Mako, who also offers a threat on transition and will hope to make Dolly do at least some backtracking.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter: “[The loss to Stellenbosch] doesn’t affect the derby at all. I think the derby has its own life, that's my experience. We have a couple of days to recoup and refresh and put together a game plan for Pirates because you certainly are not trying to get one eye on Pirates and Stellenbosch... that would be suicidal. We gave attention to this game and we will give Pirates their attention now.”

Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi: “We have a lot of challenges, without making excuses I know in every team it happens. But in our team it's extraordinary. You can make a list of a new team out of injuries. But God being God every reason, pre-destination, we don't know why it's happening like it's happening. I'm just happy that [against Sekhukhune] it was not as bad. I'm hoping that [Olisa] Ndah is okay because you can see what's happening at the back. We lost [Happy] Jele, now Ndah is doubtful. But hey, it is what it is. Let's move to the next match. The most important match in the PSL calendar.”

PREVIOUS LEAGUE LINE-UPS

- Chiefs’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch on November 2: Akpeyi, Nj. Ngcobo, Mathoho, Cardoso, Blom, Nange (Sekgota 84’), Alexander (Nk. Ngcobo 71’), Hlanti, Dolly, Billiat, Parker.

- Pirates’ line-up from their 2-1 win over Sekhukhune on November 2: Mpontshane, Shandu (Dzvukamanja 58’), Hlatshwayo, Ndah (Mngonyama 70’), Mako, Hotto, Mabaso, Makaringe, Makgaka (Dlamini 57’), Mntambo (Monare 84’), Mabasa (Peprah 57’).

DID YOU KNOW?

- Chiefs have not lost a home league match against Pirates since October 2015, though they were beaten as hosts by their arch rivals in the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal last season. The Buccaneers went on to win that trophy.

- The teams’ last unofficial meeting was in the pre-season Carling Black Label Cup match, played on 1 August 2021 at FNB Stadium. The game ended 0-0 before Chiefs won 4-3 on penalties.

- Despite a record of 28 draws from the teams’ 71 league meetings since 1985, six of the last seven Premiership games between the Soweto rivals have produced a winner, including the last four on the bounce.

- The teams have scored a combined 20 goals and conceded a combined 18 goals after nine rounds of the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season.

- Chiefs have had six different goal scorers in the Premiership this season, while Pirates have had seven.

- Both teams have managed just three clean sheets each in the league this season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Pirates have met in 71 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have claimed 27 wins compared to 16 for the Buccaneers, while no less than 28 encounters have ended in draws. The team in gold and black have won 15 of their 34 home matches in the rivalry, suffering six defeats in the process.

The teams each claimed one victory over the other last season, with Pirates winning 2-1 at home in January 2021 (with goals from Thembinkosi Lorch and Siphesihle Ndlovu), but Chiefs claimed revenge with a 1-0 triumph in the return game in March 2021 (with a strike from Samir Nurkovic).