Head coach Cavin Johnson says his Kaizer Chiefs side will be out to entertain when they face rivals Orlando Pirates in a highly-anticipated Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs go into Saturday’s encounter having not tasted defeat in their last seven DStv Premiership fixtures while being out to reverse a 1-0 defeat to the Buccaneers in November.
Just a point separates the two sides with Pirates in fifth position (30 points) ahead of sixth-placed Chiefs (29 points).
A win would also see either side jump to second place in the standings and leapfrog SuperSport United, Cape Town City and Stellenbosch FC, who are all on 31 points on the table.
“The players know, that come Saturday and if they’ve been selected to play, they have to entertain the 90 000 people who come out to support,” Johnson said.
“But the most important thing is to go out there and to play for the badge. If the football gods are with us, then we will come out with a win.
“Then we’ll have the bragging rights to the 181st Soweto derby that has been played between the two teams.”
The 65-year-old admits that a positive result for Chiefs in Saturday’s encounter could act as a springboard to clinching continental football.
“Yes, that [CAF Champions League qualification] is the objective, and it has been the target for the club for a long time now,” Johnson added.
“If we get the result on Saturday, it will give us a lot more to play for as there is still a lot left to play for in the league.
“If we do get a positive result on Saturday, which we are hoping for, then it will put us in a good standing going into the remaining league games.”
Kick-off is at 15:30.
The #SowetoDerby press conference in pictures:
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) March 7, 2024
All has been said and done, now we wait to see how the story unfolds at FNB Stadium this Saturday🤩. #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/fKua4mbO9L
