Soweto Derby showdown: Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs clash in season-defining battle at FNB Stadium
Greetings before Soweto derby Players from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates shake hands before the start of the last Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The two teams will meet twice over the next two weeks, starting this weekend. Photo: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
Image: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
It feels as though the last Soweto derby was just the other day. Now, here we are, on the eve of back-to-back derbies that could defy the season for both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
This weekend, the two rivals go head-to-head in a crucial league encounter at the FNB Stadium with both teams desperate to pick up the maximum three points for separate reasons.
For Ezimnyama ngenkani ezikamagebhula, a win on Saturday will keep them within touching distance of league leaders and perennial kings of South African football, Mamelodi Sundowns.
On top of that, the Sea Robbers will want to ensure that departing head coach Jose Riveiro has something to remember about his final season with the club. In three seasons under the Spaniard, Pirates have won back-to-back cup doubles and are well on course to match that this campaign.
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And with the league title so close for a change, they could even surpass their achievements of the last two years by bagging a league crown for the first time since 2012.
The players will be hurting that they couldn’t advance to the final of the CAF Champions League, and Saturday’s clash against the old rival will be the perfect opportunity for them get over their disappointment.
In the updated Betway Premiership table, Pirates trail Sundowns by nine points. Crucially, they have two games in hand, which represents a potential six points. While games in hand don’t always translate to points in the bag, they could give Riveiro’s men a target to aim for.
Pirates’ mettle will be severely tested this weekend against an opponent that wants to win for different reasons.
When Nasreddine Nabi was brought in as the club’s new coach at the beginning of the season, they wanted an improvement from the previous campaign, where the club struggled and finished outside of the top eight.
In Nabi’s first year in charge, there hasn’t been much change. Sure, there have been glimpses that they can improve, but they have been few and far between. With three games left to play, Chiefs are very desperate for any points they can pick up.
If they don’t show any improvement from where they were last season, it will make Nabi’s position at the club very difficult.
To make things worse, it was reported earlier in the week that Wandile Duba, one of the club’s creative playmakers, will be unavailable for selection as he serves a one-match suspension after being given a fourth yellow card.
Both teams will be facing different kinds of pressure this weekend. Whoever wins will surely be the favourite to go on and win the Nedbank Cup final in Durban seven days later.
With pride, silverware, and season-defining momentum all on the line, this Soweto derby carries weight far beyond the usual bragging rights. It’s more than just a match — it’s a moment that could tip the scales for two of South Africa’s most iconic clubs.
As the FNB Stadium prepares to host another chapter of this fierce rivalry, expect fireworks, passion, and the kind of drama only the derby can deliver.
Whatever the outcome, Saturday will send ripples through the remainder of the season.
IOL Sport