A total of 104 foreign players from 29 different countries have featured in the Soweto derby since the launch of the Premier Soccer League, giving an international touch to the ‘classico’ of the South African season.
Neighbours Zimbabwe, with 23 players, have produced the most foreign players for the clash between archrivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and there have been players from a further 22 different African countries who have taken to the field in the most anticipated clash of the South African season.
Plus, there have been protagonists from as far afield as Australia, Eastern Europe and South America.
Chiefs have never failed to field at least one foreigner in their line-up in every derby since 1996 while Pirates have had a handful of games with an all-South African line-up.
Their last derby in February, where they won with a last gasp penalty, Namibia international Deon Hotto was the only foreigner in the Buccaneers’ line-up.
Here is SuperSport.com’s exclusive look at the derby foreigners:
Angola
Players (1)
Inacio Miguel: The Portuguese-born Angolan international centre back joined Chiefs at the start of this season and played in the last derby in February and will be hoping to recover from injury and play on Saturday again.
Australia
Players (1)
Kearyn Baccus: Although born in Durban, Baccus emigrated to Australia with his family while still young, playing in France and the A-League before joining Chiefs for three seasons between 2019-2022.
Botswana
Players (2)
Phenyo Mongalo: The dreadlocked winger featured as a substitute in two derbies for Pirates.
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe: Signed after four seasons at SuperSport United, he was an immediate starter for Chiefs but a shoulder injury after the Soweto derby of November 2023 sidelined him thereafter for months. Chiefs sold him to Libya just weeks after the last derby.
Goals (0)
Brazil
Players (3)
Caio Macedo: Pirates bought the teenage defender in the hope he might develop into a top talent, but he only started six games and in the 2018 Telkom Knockout semi-final derby came on in stoppage time at the end of the game for a few seconds’ worth of a derby appearance.
Ricardo & Rodrigo: The first derby clash of the PSL era was a BoB Save Super Bowl semi-final in November 1996 where Chiefs fielded the two Brazilian attackers, who had been brought over by coach Walter da Silva but left very quickly after proving flops.
Goals (0)
Burundi
Players (2)
Caleb-Bonfis Bimenyimana: The lankly striker spent one season at Chiefs, flattering to deceive with an early haul of goals but mostly from the penalty spot but ending the 2022-23 season on the bench, with his two derby appearances coming on as a substitute.
Valery Nahayo: Originally brought to South Africa by Jomo Sono, Nahayo played in six derbies after initially struggling with injury when he first arrived at Chiefs. He left in 2011 and spent four years at KAA Gent in Belgium.
Goals (0)
Cameroon
Players (3)
Luc Owona Zoa: The defender spent two years at Pirates from 2001 before they sold him to Spartak Moscow in the Russian league, where he made over 80 appearances.
Bienvenu Eva Nga: Pirates took the giant-sized striker for 18 months from Chippa United before letting him go back to Gqeberha. He got eight minutes of derby action in the 2023 Nedbank Cup semi-final.
Soubaibou Marou: The striker started a single game in two seasons with Pirates and last season came on for eight minutes of Pirates’ 3-2 victory in the league at Soccer City in March 2024. He now plays in the lower league in the USA.
Goals (0)
Colombia:
Players (2)
Leonardo Castro: Moved from Mamelodi Sundowns to join Chiefs and holds the record as the foreigner with the most goals in the derby’s history, scoring four times in 11 derby appearances.
Efmamjjasond Gonzalez: The imposing striker was a major flop in his single season with Chiefs and played only a handful of minutes in last season’s derby, coming on in stoppage time and managing to get himself booked. Chiefs let him go back to his old clubs in Bolivia almost as quick as they had signed him.
Congo
Players (1)
Destin Makita: The international centre back never bedded down a regular berth in the Pirates’ back four after arriving from Gabon and after two seasons left to return to his home country.
Goals (0)
DR Congo
Players (7)
Michel Babale: The Pirates goalkeeper was the understudy to William Okpara and only played in a single derby in 2002.
Francis Chansa: Flamboyant goalkeeper who had a yeoman’s career in South African football, playing at seven different clubs of which Pirates was his third.
Glody Lilepo: Chiefs bought the right-sided attacker from France’s third division in the January transfer window, and he made his debut as a substitute in February’s derby.
Blaise Mbele: Tall and agile striker whose stay at Pirates was brief but who went onto have continental success with CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and then commanded a US$1.2-million transfer fee when he went to Saudi Arabia.
Kapamba Musasa: Chiefs discovered him in the Vodacom Challenge playing for the unheralded FC St Eloi Lupopo and promptly snapped him up to lead their attack. He scored in two derbies in 2002 and 2003.
Felix Mwamba Musasa: The fullback wore white gloves when he played, joining Pirates from TP Mazembe in 2003.
Christian Salie: The hard running winger joined Chiefs from Zambian club Nchanga Rangers and played his first derby in late 2022. He is on loan to SuperSport United this season.
Goals (2)
Eswatini
Players (1)
Sibusiso Dlamini: Arrived at Chiefs via Black Leopards but his derby appearance in 2003 saw him marked out of the game by the Mozambican defender Tomas, who was standing in for suspended Pirates’ captain Papi Khomane.
Goals (0)
Ethiopia
Players (1)
Fikru Tefera: Target man for the Buccaneers in the 2006-07 season, he went onto play at SuperSport United and help them to win the league title.
Goals (0)
Gabon
Players (1)
Guy-Roger Nzeng: The central defender had three separate spells at Pirates but played in only in one derby which was the first of the PSL era in late 1996.
Goals (0)
Ghana
Players (6)
Louis Agyemang: The striker from Hearts of Oak was always going to find it difficult after being brought in in 2006 as the successor to Collins Mbesuma in the heart of the Chiefs attack and left after a season for Tunisia.
Edward Gyimah: Tough utility player adept in defence and in midfield and featured in four derbies. He also played at SuperSport United, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Bidvest Wits, Black Leopards and Sekhukhune United.
Bernard Morrison: Tricky winger who Pirates used mostly as impact player off the bench and who later moved to north Africa and then Tanzania.
Richard Ofori: Goalkeeper who played in three derbies but then lost his place in the side and was let go to AmaZulu this season. He captained the Black Stars at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.
Kwame Peprah: Scored for Pirates in the 2021/22 season but still featured on losing side in both his derby appearances.
Jonathan Quartey: Imposing defender who played for Ghana at the U-17 World Cup and later for the senior national team played on the losing side in his only derby appearance in 2008. Chiefs sold him to French club Nice.
Goals (1)
Ivory Coast
Players (1)
Serge Djiehoua: Bustling, stocky striker put Chiefs ahead against Pirates at Ellis Park in April, 2007 but that turned out to be the only derby he played as he did not last long on the conveyor belt of west African strikers that the club brought in a furtive effort to find a replacement for goal machine Mbesuma.
Goals (1)
Kenya:
Players (1)
Teddy Akumu: Utility player who left Chiefs in 2022 after failing to establish himself as a first team regular.
Lesotho
Players (2)
Lekoane Lekoane: The Basotho national team striker played in the first PSL season for Chiefs, featuring in his two derby encounters in the 1996-97 campaign.
Lehlohonolo Seema: The centre back had an unbeaten record in the four derbies he played in between 2006 and 2008 but had to quit his playing career after a bad head injury.
Goals (0)
Madagascar
Players (1)
Andriamirado Andrianarimanana: Midfielder who had only a handful of minutes’ derby experience in 2018. His transfer from Fosa Juniors was later found to be fraudulent and Chiefs were slapped with a costly one-season transfer ban by FIFA.
Goals (0)
Malawi
Players (4)
Joseph Kamwendo: The diminutive midfielder featured only as a substitute in the derbies after proving unable to bed down a regular place in the Pirates line-up.
Patrick Mabedi: Chiefs captain who featured in 12 derby clashes between 1999 and 2005 as he proved a commanding defender at the club and later worked on the coaching staff.
Frank Mhango: Has two derby goals in five appearances for Pirates but was under used by the Buccaneers in his last two seasons at the club and is now with Marumo Gallants.
Chiukepo Msowoya: Bustling centre forward for Pirates, who played in two derbies in the 2010-11 season when Chiefs and Pirates met five times – twice in the league and three times in cup games.
Goals (2)
Mozambique
Players (6)
Baute: The centre back, whose full name was Carlos Baute, played the two derby clashes in the 2000-01 season for Pirates.
Edmilson: Originally a left back at Cape Town City, the energetic defender had been switched to centre back by the time he recovered from serious knee injury and moved to Chiefs, playing in first derby in October 2022.
Helder Pelembe: The striker played in a single derby for Pirates in 2014 which was the first time in four derbies that Pirates had fielded a foreigner in their side.
Jossias: The wide attacker, full name Andre Alberto Macamo, signed for Chiefs in 2001 from Costa do Sol in Maputo, and spent two seasons at the club, featuring in three derby matches. He later went to Dynamos and Moroka Swallows.
Tico-Tico: Legendary striker with more than 100 goals in his South African career, Manuel Buane joined Pirates towards the end of his playing days and had a handful of derby appearances, but only as a substitute.
Tomas: Tomas Inguane was a defensive stalwart for Pirates between 1999 and 2003 and featured in five derby games.
Goals (0)
Namibia
Players (4)
Rudolph Bester: Attacking winger Bester came into the team for the derby on September 17, 2011, one week after being left out of the line-up for the MTN8 final between the two clubs. It was the only derby he featured in.
Deon Hotto: The fast and erratic left winger has played in 10 derbies since he joined Pirates in 2020 from the defunct Bidvest Wits. He has evolved into something of a club legend over the last years under Jose Riveiro.
Robert Nauseb: Spotted at the Cosafa Cup by the late Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala, Nauseb played in seven derbies and was sent off in the clash between the two rivals in June 2000 for a second bookable offence early in the game.
Mohamed Ouseb: Winner of the Footballer of the Year award in 1998, he was in a constant battle with Jerry Sikhosana in their derby clashes, not always coming off best.
Goals (0)
Nigeria
Players (9)
Muisi Ajao: Centre back played for Chiefs first and then moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he had championship success. He was also capped by Nigeria’s Super Eagles while he was in the PSL.
Daniel Akpeyi: Kept goal in nine successive derbies as Itumeleng Khune struggled with weight, fitness and injury but left Chiefs two seasons ago.
Tony Ilodigwe: Striker who first came to South Africa with unfashionable African Wanderers, he joined Chiefs in 2001 and netted in the derby in April 2001 at Ellis Park that was then abandoned after the horror stampede that costs 43 lives.
Olisha Ndah: Had a brilliant first season in the Pirates’ defence save for one blemish – giving away a late penalty in the November 2021 derby that allowed Chiefs to win with a last gasp spotkick. He followed that up with an own goal in the October 2022 meeting.
Onyekachi Okonkwo: Classy midfielder who had won African Champions League honours with Enyimba before moving to South Africa and was a firm fan favourite before moving to Switzerland.
Williams Okpara: Goalkeeper who held the record for the most appearances for Pirates until overtaken by Happy Jele. Okpara played in 17 derbies in the PSL era.
Sonny Opara: Striker who played with a distinctive white headband who spent a single season at Pirates in the 1997-98 campaign.
Ezenwa Otorugo: Pirates had high hopes when they brought the striker from Etoile Sahel in Tunisia and while he won the league with Bucs in 2011, was never proficient enough to convince of his ability even though he did net a derby goal.
Sam Pam: Scored a wonder goal winner in the derby in March 1998 which turned the defender into an instant hero, and he went onto to be a trusted constant in the Pirates’ backline.
Goals (2)
Senegal
Players (1)
Issa Sarr: Hard working midfielder with a spectacular engine, who was a stoic regular for four seasons and featured in 10 derbies, scoring in his first derby in October 2015.
Goals (1)
Serbia
Players (1)
Samir Nurkovic: Was in top scoring form in his first season for Chiefs but then injury and a transfer request took away his focus and the club released him at the end of the 2021/22 season. Scored one derby goal.
Goals (1)
Togo
Players (2)
Camaldine Abraw: Played in the four derbies that Chiefs and Pirates contested in the 2015-16 season after moving from Free State Stars. Born in France he played for Togo at the U-17 World Cup in 2007 and later the national team.
Dove Wome: Made his name at Free State Stars, then Sundowns and SuperSport United and had just one season at Pirates with his only derby appearance coming as a sub in 2017.
Goals (0)
Uganda
Players (3)
Ivan Bukenya: Imposing utility player who was never a regular at Chiefs but spent three seasons at the club between 2013-16 before moving onto clubs in India and Sweden.
David Obua: Scored in the derby of October 2005 and again in the return match two months later as Chiefs did the double over Pirates that season in their two league tussles.
Godfrey Walusimbi: A flying fullback who impressed at the Africa Cup of Nations finals but never found any favour at Chiefs and stayed only briefly.
Goals (2)
Uruguay
Players (1)
Gaston Sirino: The midfield magician played plenty against both Chiefs and Pirates in his 10 seasons at Sundowns before joining Chiefs at the beginning of this season. He had a five minutes as a substitute in the last derby in February.
Venezuela
Players (3)
Edson Castillo: International midfielder joined Chiefs at the start of the 2023-24 season and made an immediate impression, particularly with headed goals after sneaking in late into the penalty area.
Gustavo Paez: Nippy looking striker who did not make the expected impact in his three seasons with Chiefs, playing in three derbies.
Jose Torrealba: The best days for the diminutive striker were at Sundowns and after he fell out with them over alleged transfer fraud, he joined Chiefs, who only used him as a substitute in derby matches.
Goals (0)
Zimbabwe
Players (23)
Onismor Bhasera: Left back who had two seasons at Chiefs before heading to England. He came back to South African football and is still going strong at the age of 36, captaining SuperSport in the DStv Premiership this season.
Khama Billiat: Chiefs’ highest paid player after signing from Sundowns, he scored on his derby debut in October 2018 but has failed to find the yet in eight derbies since
Innocent Chikoya: Member of Pirates’ league winning team in 2003, he was a hardworking fullback who also played at African Wanderers, Manning Rangers and Moroka Swallows.
Edmore Chirambadare: Left sided player who Chiefs spent good money on, to buy from ex-Zimbabwe champions Chicken Inn but who failed to live up to his billing.
Edelbert Dinha: Influential defender who was first at Ajax Cape Town before moving to Pirates, playing in three derbies between 2002 and 2004.
Cleophas Dlodlo: Chiefs centre back who was tormented by Pirates’ hattrick hero Sikhosana as Pirates won 4-1 in November 1996 and then again two months later.
Terrene Dzvukamanja: Made a major splash when he arrived at Wits in 2018 but struggled to score goals and for playing time at the SeaRobbers and started only two derbies before departing Pirates for SuperSport United.
Teenage Hadebe: Made a single derby appearance in 2019, leaving Chiefs to play in Turkey and is now in Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo.
Zhaimu Jambo: Leftback whose career was cut short by a bad leg break. He was at Chiefs for five years from 2009 to 2014.
Willard Katsande: Midfield general and fan favourite with the greatest number of derby appearances by a foreigner – a total of 27 plus two goals in March 2014 and January 2016 – both back post headers that he celebrated with much delight.
Mitchell Katsvairo: Spent one season at Chiefs in 2016-17 without any impact and is now playing in Botswana.
Zvenyika Makonese: Tough tackling defensive hardman who was at Cape Town club Santos first before moving to Pirates where he spent two seasons between 2009 and 2011.
Liberty Masunda: Tall centre forward who played in two derbies for Chiefs in 1998 but did not make much of an impression at the club.
Robson Muchichwa: Winger who was crowd pleaser in the early days of the PSL, playing for Chiefs six times in derby games against Pirates between 1997 and 1999.
Marshall Munetsi: Now competing in Ligue 1 in France where he famously marked Lionel Messi out of the game on his PSG debut, the defensive midfielder and occasional centre back was previously on the books of Pirates.
Gilbert Mushangazhike: A league winner with Manning Rangers in the first PSL season in 1997, he went off to China before returning to play for Pirates and scored in the derby in November 2008.
Kelvin Mushangazhike: Younger brother of Gilbert who played for Chiefs as a sub in the derby in May 2002. It is the only case of two foreign siblings on the opposite sides of the derby, although they never played against each other.
Knowledge Musona: The ‘Smiling Assassin’ had two spells with Chiefs on either side of time spent in the Bundsliga. He scored three goals in 11 derby appearances.
Tendai Ndoro: Netted twice in his first derby in March 2016 as Pirates beat Chiefs 2-0 in the first round of the Nedbank Cup. Both goals came within seven minutes of each other in the final quarter-hour of the game.
Tinashe Nengomasha: One of the best foreigners to ever wear a Chiefs shirt, he was spotted at under-20 level and was at Chiefs from 2002 to 2011, playing in 22 derbies.
Kingston Nkhatha: Chiefs striker who missed more than he scored and got on the wrong side of the fans but when he netted in the derby in October 2013 was able to put his finger to his lips in a gesture to silence the boo-boys.
Thomas Sweswe: Defender who was later banned for match fixing with the Zimbabwe national team. He played for Chiefs in seven derbies.
Lincoln Zvasiya: There was a single derby appearance in 2012 for the defender, who moved to Greece after his time at AmaKhosi.
Goals (10)
Zambia
Players (11)
Songwe Chalwe: International striker who played a single derby in 2005 for Chiefs. He also played in the PSL at Moroka Swallows, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Isaac Chansa: Cultured midfielder who had two separate spells at Pirates on either side of a stint in the Swedish league and made also most 70 appearances for the Zambian national team.
Lazarous Kambole: Left Chiefs last season after a miserable spell at the club with a single goal and also a single derby appearance.
Rotson Kilambe: Midfield general who made his name at Bloemfontein Celtic and also helped Chiefs to cup success but who had limited impact at derby time with two substitute appearances in 2006.
Denis Lota: Sadly passed away in 2014, the nippy striker was a prolific scorer for Swallows and Pirates, netting three goals in nine derby appearances.
Aaron Lubunda: Had a brief stint as a striker at Chiefs and made his only derby appearance in January 1997.
Collins Mbesuma: For all his goals for Chiefs as they won the league in 2005, Mbesuma did not get any against Pirates. But he returned to the derby in the colours of the Buccaneers in 2012 and scored against his old club.
Augustine Mulenga: Spent three seasons with Pirates from 2017-2020 but manage only six gal league goals in all that time and not one in a derby.
Perry Mutapa: Played at Pirates from2004 -06 and also had a spell in Portugal and has since become a coach in the MTN Super League in Zambia
Davis Mwape: Pirates hoped the young striker would prove a bargain buy when they signed him in 2005 but he was shipped out quickly when he did not make the grade.
Justin Shonga: Scored the winner as Pirates beat Chiefs for a place in the 2018 Telkom Knockout final and featured in a further four derbies.
Goals (5)
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