The biggest fixture in South Africa club football is here: Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are gearing up for the first Soweto Derby of the 2023/24 season at the FNB Stadium!
SOWETO DERBY: Is the excitement back for Chiefs?
Breaking their losing streak, Kaizer Chiefs secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against relegation-threatened Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday night in the Premier Soccer League. Despite playing behind closed doors, Amakhosi showcased impressive moves, netting two early goals and reclaiming their winning form.
Venezuelan Edson Castillo and Ranga Chivaviro netted for Chiefs while Luvuyo Phewa and 17-year-old Luke Baartman scored for Spurs, who suffered a ninth defeat in 10 matches.
The night before saw Pirates break a four-match winless streak with a 1-0 win over Sekhukhune on Tuesday evening thanks to Thabiso Monyane’s 79th-minute strike. After a solid start to the season the Buccaneers have fallen by the wayside slightly and are ninth position with just 12 points from nine matches.
Chiefs climbed to seventh and Pirates to 10th with the first third of the 30-round season completed.
☠️ ♟️ 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 ♟️
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) November 9, 2023
🎙 Head Coach | @CoachRiveiro
🎙 Captain | Tapelo Xoki
🏆 #SowetoDerby
⚽️ @KaizerChiefs vs @OrlandoPirates
📆 Saturday, 11 November 2023
🏟 FNB Stadium
🕞 15h30
⚫⚪🔴⭐#DStvPrem#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/yOlU7gv1sH
Last Meeting
The last encounter between these two sides was a Nedbank Cup semi-final clash which ended 2-1 in favour of Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium. Kermit Erasmus opened the scoring for Bucs before Yusuf Maart equalised in the 79th minute. But Pirates’ Sandile Mthethwa jumped high to head in to make it 2-1 after the teams could not be separated in regulation time.
When and Where to Watch
Build up to the encounter starts at 14:00 live on SuperSport PSL (channel 202) on Saturday, with match coverage beginning at 15:30.
Betting Odds
Chiefs 2/1 | Draw 31/20 | Pirates 31/20
Predicted Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs
Orlando Pirates
FNB Stadium
Designed as the main association football stadium for the World Cup, the FNB Stadium became the largest stadium in Africa with a capacity of 94,736.
However, its maximum capacity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup was 84,490 due to reserved seating for the press and other VIPs. The stadium is also known by its nickname “The Calabash” due to its resemblance to the African pot or gourd.
It was the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech in Johannesburg after his release from prison in 1990, and served as the venue for a memorial service to him on 10 December 2013.
It was also the site of both Chris Hani’s funeral on 19 April 1993 and Oliver Tambo’s funeral on 2 May 1993.
It was also the venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, which was played by the Netherlands and Spain. The World Cup closing ceremony on the day of the final saw the final public appearance of Mandela.
