Siphiwe Tshabalala is a Kaizer Chiefs legend who served the club with distinction for well over a decade.
.gif)
He did not have it all his own way in the Soweto Derby against bitter rivals Orlando Pirates 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 scored four goals.
He won seven of the 31 games he played in a Chiefs shirt against Pirates, with 15 draws and nine defeats.
Here is a run-down of his Soweto Derby appearances.
24/11/07: Orlando Pirates 2-2 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 45
Replaced at halftime in his first Soweto Derby having made his debut for Chiefs three months earlier.
10/05/08: Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 89
Came off with a minute to go at the end of the game as Chiefs closed up shop and hung on for the win.
15/11/08: Kaizer Chiefs 0-2 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
Could not help his team to the win in a routine victory for Pirates, but did complete a Derby for the first time.
02/05/09: Orlando Pirates 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 76
Pirates did the double over Chiefs in the league this season, a rarity over the years. Tshabalala did not see out this game.
31/10/09: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
A stalemate in a dull encounter that failed to live up to the hype.
20/02/10: Orlando Pirates 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 64
Tshabalala was taken off midway through the second half of this clash as the teams again could not find a route to goal.
11/09/10: Orlando Pirates 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs (MTN8 semifinal, first leg)
Minutes: 90
The first of an incredible five Derby matches in the 2010/11 season as the teams met in the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout.
26/09/10: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Orlando Pirates (MTN8 semifinal, second leg)
Minutes: 63
Tshabalala was taken off relatively early in the second half as Chiefs battled to make a break through and Pirates won the day.
13/11/10: Orlando Pirates 1-3 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 76
Tshabalala finally tasted Derby success again after six games without a win against Pirates.
04/12/10: Orlando Pirates 0-3 Kaizer Chiefs (Telkom Knockout Final)
Minutes: 89
Goals: 1
A Telkom Knockout win and a first ever Derby goal for Tshabalala as he added to Sthembiso Ngcobo’s brace in the decider. As comprehensive final win as you will see.
26/02/11: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 82
A draw in the final battle of the season between the sides, for the fourth time in a row Tshabalala does not see out the match.
10/09/11: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Orlando Pirates (MTN8 Final)
Minutes: 75
A day that ended in disappointment as Chiefs lost the MTN8 final. Tshabalala came off 15 minutes from the end and also picked up his first Derby booking.
17/09/11: Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
Goals: 1
A week later and Tshabalala made up for that disappointment with his second Derby goal in a 2-1 win for Chiefs in the League.
17/03/12: Orlando Pirates 3-2 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
Goals: 1
Back-to-back goals in Derby matches, but this one ended in disappointment after Benni McCarthy’s early brace for Pirates.
08/12/12: Orlando Pirates 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
A fixture that ended in a draw with Tshabalala booked.
09/03/13: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
A dull derby draw in which Tshabalala played the full 90 minutes.
24/08/13: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Orlando Pirates (MTN8 semifinal, first leg)
Minutes: 90
Defeat in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal as Tshabalala played the full 90 minutes for the fifth time in a row in Derby matches.
24/09/13: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Orlando Pirates (MTN8 semifinal, second leg)
Minutes: 81
Tshabalala could not help his side to a win as they bowed out 2-1 on aggregate.
26/10/13: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 89
A third league draw in a row between the sides, and fourth in five games overall, as Tshabalala was replaced near the end.
15/03/14: Orlando Pirates 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
Chiefs win a first derby in seven meetings as Tshabalala received a booking, but played the full 90 minutes.
20/09/14: Orlando Pirates 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs (MTN8 Final)
Minutes: 21
The first ever time that Tshabalala came on as a substitute in a Derby game, he helped Chiefs see out victory in the MTN8 decider.
06/12/14: Orlando Pirates 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
Goals: 1
This time Tshabalala started and rewarded that faith with a fourth Derby goal as Chiefs eased to the win.
07/03/15: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
A Derby stalemate as Chiefs went on to win the League this campaign.
31/10/15: Kaizer Chiefs 1-3 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
A crushing defeat in Steve Komphela’s first Derby in charge of the side.
07/11/15: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (Telkom Knockout semifinal)
Minutes: 120
Tshabalala played the full 120 minutes as Chiefs won 6-5 on penalties to advance to the final, where they lost to a rampant Mamelodi Sundowns.
30/01/16: Orlando Pirates 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
Another 90 minutes under his belt in this 1-1 league draw.
05/03/16: Orlando Pirates 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs (Nedbank Cup Last 32)
Minutes: 90
A first round exit in the Nedbank Cup as Tendai Ndoro scored twice for Pirates.
29/10/16: Orlando Pirates 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 24
Just the second time that Tshabalala was used as a sub in the Derby, he could not break the deadlock.
04/03/17: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
Back in the starting line-up but no win for Tshabalala.
21/10/17: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (League)
Minutes: 90
A Derby deadlock as Tshabalala picked up a booking in the game, but no goal.
03/03/18: Orlando Pirates 3-1 Kaizer Chiefs (League)
Minutes: 90
Tshabalala’s last ever Derby before his move to Turkey the following season, and it ended in a comprehensive loss at the hands of old foes Pirates.