Orlando Pirates clinched a dramatic win over cross-town rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto derby classic. Here are FIVE things we learned.
Chiefs, Pirates served up Soweto derby classic
An enthralling 3-2 win for Orlando Pirates meant it was the first time that the Buccaneers clinched a DStv Premiership league double over bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs since 2008, and they did it emphatically. Unlike many previous encounters that ended in drab draws, the 81st instalment of the Soweto derby proved a classic with both teams providing a high level of football in front of a sold-out FNB Stadium. The action included two braces, end-to-end action and thunderbolt goals. For onlookers, there were two good teams on display with Pirates just perhaps slightly ahead in their evolution as a team under Jose Riveiro.
Blistering Ashley du Preez proving Chiefs worth
With his impressive brace on Saturday, Du Preez has silenced all the doubters on his worth to Chiefs. Perhaps in an indicator that the Soweto giants are finally correcting their underwhelming recruitment, the blistering attacker is the one signing to have impressed at Naturena. With Chiefs struggling to find an out-and-out goalscoring striker, Du Preez has had to do a job for the team through the middle of the attack, which is a stick that fans have been using to beat him with. Saturday’s performance has shown when utilised correctly, how effective the 26-year-old can be.
Scintillating Saleng the most dangerous player in DStv Prem
Monnapule Saleng announced his return to form in devastating fashion with two excellent goals to inspire Pirates to a comeback win. Perhaps the most exciting local DStv Premiership star since Percy Tau, Saleng similarly gets fans on the edge of their seats in thrilling fashion from the left flank. Mamelodi Sundowns may have the best squad, by a distance, but in Saleng Pirates possess the most dangerous attacker in the league.
Mofokeng, Frosler fast becoming superstars
In 19-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng Orlando Pirates have an emerging superstar. Having scored a wonder-goal against Cape Town Spurs last week and gaining an impressive amount of playing minutes already in a quality squad, Mofokeng is producing displays beyond his years with a bright future ahead of him.
Reeve Frosler is a curious case. In and out of the Kaizer Chiefs team but on his day you would struggle to find a better right-back in the league. Ability-wise, the 26-year-old has the capabilities of becoming one of the best-ever right-backs in the PSL. Possessing a massive engine as a marauding full-back, one of the best deliveries, importantly, off either foot and being one of the best one-on-one defenders as Thapelo Maseko would attest, Frosler should announce himself as the best right-back in the league.
Soweto derby one of the best spectacles in world football
The Premier League derbies, El Clasico, Milan derby, and even the Turkish and many fanatical South American derbies rank as some of the best rivalries in world football. As a spectacle, the Soweto derby is right up there with them. Perhaps not as ill-tempered as other derbies, but packing 90 000 people into an iconic FNB Stadium is a proud symbol of South African, and African football.
