Chiefs out to bridge Pirates gap in pivotal Soweto Derby clash

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off in the 184th edition of the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium this Saturday, with Betway Premiership points and fierce bragging rights on the line.

Kick-off is at 3:30 pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

CURRENT FORM

Both teams enter the iconic fixture winless in their last two matches, with Chiefs suffering back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Stellenbosch FC in the Premiership midweek and to Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup two weeks ago.

The loss to Stellenbosch has left Chiefs in fourth place on the league standings - two points adrift of third-placed Sekhukhune United and eight behind joint leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates, though Amakhosi hold a game in hand.

Pirates, meanwhile, fell 2-1 to Sundowns in a top-of-the-league-log clash last week and were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup on penalties by lower division side Casric Stars, who emerged as 5-4 winners after a 0-0 draw last weekend.

Therefore, the Buccaneers currently occupy second spot in the league standings - six points clear of third-placed Sekhukhune and level on points with Sundowns, trailing only on goals scored (26 for Bucs versus 27 for Masandawana), with both teams boasting an identical +19 goal difference.

TEAM NEWS

Chiefs trio of Rushwin Dortley, Etiosa Ighodaro and George Matlou have been ruled out of the Soweto Derby showdown, but Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Inacio Miguel could be included in the matchday squad if they pass their fitness tests.

Pirates, on the other hand, have been boosted by the availability of Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa ahead of the eagerly anticipated encounter, but Sihle Nduli remains sidelined by a long-term injury.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Cedric Kaze

“In these kinds of games, emotions are very high. You spend the whole week trying to lower the pressure, which is the opposite of other games," Kaze said.

"You need a good balance. When you are too excited or there is too much pressure, they can get scared, and then the execution of the game plan is not as clear as it should be in everyone’s minds. The derby is spicy; every time you come to a derby, you want to do as much as you can to win.

"You know you buy yourself a month of happiness with the fans and everyone (if you win). That is just how it is in football. We will do everything to put in a very good performance on Saturday. A good performance will lead to a positive result.”

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou

“What I want to say to my players is, enjoy the moment, give the best. Don’t be too emotional because sometimes when you are, you miss something,” Ouaddou said.

“We need to take points, we need a victory if we want to keep going in this race for the title. But more than that, it is important to practise good football, to show good football to all the fans.

“That’s what we are trying to do, even though it won’t be easy because we are playing against a very good club, one of the biggest in Africa, like us. I hope it will be a really big show for the people.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flavio Da Silva: The Guinea-Bissau-born forward has scored in each of his last three matches played in South Africa and could prove the decisive factor in earning Amakhosi a crucial victory in the Soweto Derby.

Patrick Maswanganyi: The Bafana Bafana playmaker has scored in three of the Buccaneers' last four matches and possesses the quality to inspire his side to a victory over their fiercest rivals.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2020/21 Pirates 2-1 Chiefs Lorch, Ndlovu; Cardoso

2020/21 Chiefs 1-0 Pirates Nurkovic

2021/22 Chiefs 2-1 Pirates Dolly 2 (1 pen); Mntambo

2021/22 Pirates 1-2 Chiefs Peprah; Frosler, Mathoho

2022/23 Pirates 0-1 Chiefs Maart

2022/23 Chiefs 1-0 Pirates Ndah (og)

2023/24 Chiefs 0-1 Pirates Makgopa

2023/24 Pirates 3-2 Chiefs Saleng 2, Lebitso; Du Preez 2

2024/25 Pirates 1-0 Chiefs Maswanganyi (pen)