The first of two Soweto Derby clashes in a week between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates headlines the Betway Premiership action on Saturday as the great rivals clash at the FNB Stadium ahead of their Nedbank Cup final rematch in Durban.
Here is our A-Z of one of the leading local derbies in the world:
A – The leading scorer in all Soweto Derby games is former Chiefs star Pule ‘ACE’ Ntsoelengoe, who netted 19 goals. It is a record that is unlikely to ever be beaten. Players that score that regularly generally move overseas these days.
B – Stuart BAXTER has the most Soweto Derby wins as a coach in the Premier Soccer League era having led Chiefs to victory on five occasions. But Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has four to his name and could leapfrog the Scot in these games.
C – Alfred ‘Bomber’ CHAMANE became the first player to switch between the two clubs once they were both established, as he moved from Chiefs to Pirates in 1971.
D – Pirates have DEFEATED Chiefs in the last four Soweto Derby clashes. The AmaKhosi will be desperate to end that losing run.
E – The record for the most number of Soweto Derby matches in a single season is EIGHT in 1975. It is hard to see how that record will ever be beaten. The teams would have to meet in the league (twice), MTN8 semifinals (twice), Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, CAF club competition (twice) and perhaps the CAF Super Cup. Seems unlikely …
F – There has not been a 0-0 draw in a competitive Soweto Derby since 2017. There have been FORTY-EIGHT goals scored in 19 games since then.
G – GOALKEEPER Banks Setlhodi slotted four penalties in Soweto Derby matches between 1971 and 1972, and is the only gloveman to score in clashes between the two sides.
H – HENRY Khumalo was a Soweto Derby hero as he engineered a remarkable comeback for Pirates in the 1981 Champions of Champions final. The Buccaneers were 2-0 down when he came off the bench. After netting his first on 64 minutes, he went on to score a hat-trick as Pirates won 3-2.
I – Pirates defender INNOCENT Maela was the last man to be sent off in a Soweto derby when he received his marching orders in the 1-0 win for Chiefs in February 2023. Given the ferocity of the battle, it is not a fixture that has all that many red cards.
J – JERRY Sikhosana was the last player to score a hat-trick in a Soweto Derby when he netted a treble for Pirates in a thumping 4-1 win for The Buccaneers in the 1996 BoB Save Super Bowl semifinals.
K – KAIZER Motaung was the founding father of Chiefs after leading a breakaway from Pirates in the late 1960s. He gave his name to the new club, along with his former NASL team, the Atlanta Chiefs.
L – Chiefs’ DR Congo forward Glody LILEPO will be hoping to make himself an instant Soweto Derby hero with a first ever winning goal in the fixture. So many players have built their reputations on the back of Soweto Derby heroics in the past.
M – MARKS MAPONYANE was a Soweto Derby hero for both Pirates and Chiefs having netted for either side following spells at each of the clubs. Only Gabriel Khoza, Blessing Mgidi, Jerry Sadike, Ace Khuse and Marc Bachelor have matched his feat.
N – Chiefs coach Nasreddine NABI can instantly boost his popularity with Chiefs fans by masterminding a Soweto Derby win. He will hope to get one over opposition coach Jose Riveiro in the tactical battle.
O – Pirates defender Olisa Ndah is the last man to score an OWN goal in a Soweto Derby when he put the ball into the back of his net late on in the 1-0 win for Chiefs in February 2023.
P – PERCY ‘Chippa’ Moloi scored the first ever Soweto Derby goal as Pirates won 6-4 on 24 January, 1970 in the third-place playoff for the Rogue Beer Cup.
Q – Mabhuti Khenyeza holds the record for the QUICKEST Soweto Derby goal as he netted after only 19 seconds for Chiefs in a 2-2 draw in Durban in 2007.
R – Alfred ‘RUSSIA’ Jacobs holds the distinction of having scored in four successive Soweto Derbies between 1970 and 1971, a record he holds with Fani Madida (1991-1992)
S – Jomo SONO is the record scorer for Pirates in the Soweto derby with nine career goals. A schoolboy wizard, he was a thorn in the side of the AmaKhosi for many years.
T – Former Chiefs winger Siphiwe TSHABALALA holds the record for most Soweto Derby appearances with 31 between 2007 and 2018.
U – The most UNEVEN contests between the two teams came in a 7-3 win for Chiefs in 1972, followed by a 5-1 success for the AmaKhosi in 1975 and a 5-1 victory for Pirates in 1992.
V – The VENUE to host the most Soweto Derby matches down the years is FNB Stadium with 76, followed by the Orlando Stadium (63). There have been 15 grounds used in all.
W – Chiefs have the most WINS in this fixture with 74 down the years compared to 48 for Pirates.
X – Tapelo XOKI has returned to the Pirates defence in recent months having missed part of the season with injury. He has also held the captain’s armband.
Y – YUSUF Maart’s winner for Chiefs in the 2022-23 season came from 60 yards, one of the best goals in the history of the fixture. Records from the early days are not that detailed, but it is hard to think of a Derby goal scored from a longer distance.
Z – Arthur ZWANE (Chiefs) and Eric Tinkler (Pirates) are the only South African coaches to have collected two Derby wins in the PSL era.