It was a welcome victory for the Buccaneers, who bounced back from midweek disappointment to return to winning ways. They piled more misery on their hosts, who remain in the bottom half of the standings after back-to-back defeats.

Pirates returned to the historic venue looking to snap out of a winless streak that had just stretched to three matches in all competitions. They could not have been met by a worse start to the derby as they found themselves behind inside two minutes. Chiefs made the breakthrough following a misplaced pass inside the visitors’ half, which allowed Glody Lilepo in for a shot and the Congolese attacker made no mistake in firing past an outstretched Sipho Chaine.

In attempting to draw level, Pirates battled to get close to their rivals’ goal for much of the first quarter. There wasn’t plenty for the home crowd to get too excited about either in what was a bit of a cagey period after the opener.

A timely interception from Tapelo Xoki provided a much-needed spark for the visitors, who promptly turned defence into attack by quickly working the ball out on the right flank. Mohau Nkota was on hand to deliver a perfectly weighted pass towards Evidence Makgopa, whose well-timed run down the middle allowed him to slot home from close range and make it 1-1 in the 24th minute. 

An opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the contest fell to the Buccaneers on the half-hour mark. This came via a header from a set piece from Xoki, whose effort was tipped over by Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.

They managed to create further chances to edge ahead as halftime approached with Thalente Mbatha blasting wide with a speculative shot from range, while Makgopa worked himself into space superbly with a clever touch from the flank before hooking his effort just wide.

An unfortunate deflection nearly handed the home side the advantage when Mbekezeli Mbokazi turned the ball towards his goal on the stroke of halftime. Chaine was however equal to the task as he pulled off an excellent save from point-blank range.

That sent the two sides into the tunnel still level, with the visitors emerging from the tunnel with a bit more purpose as they resumed their chase for a second goal. It almost came just five minutes after the restart, following a few deft touches on the flank from Mofokeng who laid one for replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini, whose curling effort crept inches over the crossbar.

What followed was another quiet period in terms of goalmouth action with the majority of the action occurring in the middle of the park.

The spark needed to excite the massive crowd that had turned out arrived in the 68th minute through a combination of quick thinking on the edge of the penalty area and cool heads inside it. This created a clear chance for Mofokeng in close range, and the 20-year-old obliged in bagging his fifth league goal of the season.

Nkota looked to extend the lead moments later when he made a fantastic run down the right flank, but was let down by his finish as he failed to guide the ball past a diving Bvuma. The momentum stayed on Pirates’ side with another chance presenting itself through what nearly ended up as an own goal as Hotto’s cutback was turned past the upright by Dillan Solomons.

The Buccaneers continued to dominate and their pressure told in injury time when Amakhosi were reduced to 10 men, with Bradley Cross handed his marching orders after picking up a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Nkota. That was almost punished immediately by the visitors, but Dlamini could not find the target with yet another curler which drifted narrowly wide of the target.

A controlled finish from Pirates was required, and they delivered just that in the end as they clung on to their advantage. It provided a much-needed three points which strengthened their position near the summit of the table while also handing them a vital boost in confidence ahead of a second Soweto Derby in as many weeks.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Mbokazi, Shandu (Ndlozi 64’), Mako (Dlamini 46’), Mbatha (Selepe 88’), Makhaula, Nkota, Mofokeng, Hotto, Makgopa (Radiopane 88’).

The highly-anticipated battle between two of South Africa’s biggest sports brands gets underway at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It’s also the first of two back-to-back derbies to kick off the month of May, and it comes around with two different prizes at stake as the 2024/25 season enters its final stretch.

Form Guide

The shared goal at each camp this Saturday will be to collect three precious league points to try and improve standing in the log. The designated hosts find themselves in unwanted territory in the lead-up to the clash after falling to the bottom half of the table in ninth place.

They did so following a 2-1 home defeat to Marumo Gallants over the weekend, their 11th in 25 league matches this season. It was also their fourth loss on home soil, where indifferent form has followed them throughout what has mostly been a forgettable campaign  – particularly in the Premiership where they are winless in their last three outings as hosts.

It’s a record that has placed them in a desperate scramble for a spot in the top eight, some distance away from the success their name has become synonymous with over more than five decades of their existence. A win on Saturday could launch them up as high as sixth place, ending a run of six league matches without a win.

To achieve that, Chiefs will have to overcome a Pirates side in need of a turnaround of their own after their own string of unwanted results. It has been close to three weeks since the Buccaneers finished a match on the winning side, with their latest disappointment coming on their return to league football in midweek where they fell to a rare home defeat at the hands of a resurgent Sekhukhune United.

They are geared up for their first away league fixture since vanquishing Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium nearly a month to the day,  while looking to bag three of the 21 points they have available to them in the remainder of the season.

While far more dominant at home than they have been on their travels, Pirates remain amongst the more successful Premiership sides on the road this season. They have won six of their 10 away fixtures, drawing once and losing three times.

Seven points out of a possible nine points in their last three games away from home indicate somewhat of a turnaround after a difficult spell as visitors, and they will relish a return to a venue they are yet to taste defeat in over two years across competitions. Their recent successes at the Calabash include two important league triumphs in the ongoing season, including one in the reverse fixture against the side hosting them this Saturday.

Team News

The red card picked up by defender Nkosinathi Sibisi in midweek renders him unavailable for this weekend’s fixture. This means a bit of a reshuffle in defence with Tapelo Xoki among those likely to step up in his fellow centre-back’s absence.

Other defensive options include Innocent Maela and Siyabonga Ndlozi, while Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane remain on the mend after injuries picked up during the course of the season.

Chiefs have also been dealt a similar blow leading up to the derby. Forward Wandile Duba was yellow carded in the defeat to Gallants, triggering a one-match suspension after he had picked up three previous cautions across competitions.

The hosts are also likely to be without the defensive duo of Rushwin Dortley and Bongani Sam, both sidelined for several weeks through injury.

Key Players

Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates): Providing some stability in heart of the action, Mbatha could play a crucial role in a fixture where the two sides will be giving it their all at both ends. The 25-year-old has the ability to turn defence into an attack in one swift action while also possessing the knack to find the target from some distance out.

Glody Lilepo (Kaizer Chiefs): Since he was roped in midway through the season, the Congolese forward has been a constant goal threat for Amakhosi. His eagerness to take on defenders and place himself in goal-scoring positions has so far yielded four goals in 12 league games, with one of those as recent as his last appearance.

Head-to-Head

Pirates come into the fixture amid a good run of results against their biggest rivals, having won all of their last three league encounters and four in a row across competitions. However, recent derbies have proven that things can turn around in a flash as the Buccaneers’ current success in the fixture was preceded by a run of five results that went the other way.

Stalemates have been a rarity of late, with the last time the two sides shared a point a piece dating back to February 2019 when Daniel Cardoso’s 54th minute strike from the penalty spot was cancelled out by Thembinkosi Lorch with just 10 minutes left to play. You also have to look a while further for the last goalless derby, which occurred during the early part of the 2017/18 campaign.

While victories have been the order of the day for either side of late, the margins have remained tight. The winner of each of the last 10 games in all competitions has done so by finishing a single goal to the good, with Pirates the last team to produce a more convincing victory when they won 2-0 away from home during the 2020/21 MTN8.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The Derby starts at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC1. You can also keep in touch with the action by following live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.

Billed as the hosts in the highly-anticipated encounter, José Riveiro’s charges were looking for a winning return to league football after three weeks in cup action. Their first assignment back was a big one as they renewed rivalries with the Glamour Boys, who had run into some form in the lead-up to the mammoth clash.

With a sellout crowd showing up to the World Cup venue, fireworks began just seconds after kick-off – helped along by a nervy start from both sets of defenders. Chiefs were the first to concede a chance to the opposition, relinquishing possession to Patrick Maswanganyi who connected with Relebohile Mofokeng before a swift recovery from the visitors. A similar opportunity was afforded to Pule Mmodi at the other end, with the winger going one-on-one with Sipho Chaine who left his line to pull off a crucial stop.

The exciting start was only a prelude to a scrappy period which was not completely void of shots at goal. Pirates came close through Tshegofatso Mabasa, whose shot from close range was deflected out by Rushwin Dortley. It was followed up by a wayward effort towards the Bucs goal by midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who placed the ball way off target from a long way out.

Much of the first-half chances continued to fall to the home sides as they benefited from pressure placed on goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma. The shot-stopper placed a few wayward passes, leading to goal attempts for Thalente Mbatha and Tshegofatso Mabasa. It was the striker who had the best of these opportunities when he received the ball inside the penalty area moments from the break, only to direct his effort wide.

The two Soweto Giants headed into the tunnel still goalless, despite the odd close call at both halves of the pitch. Chiefs would emerge from the interval looking the more determined of the two as they fired the first shot on target early in the second period through Pule Mmodi, who could only place the ball into Chaine’s hands.

Pirates were the dominant side however as Mabasa forced a save off Bvuma with a right-footed shot from a tight angle in the 57th minute. His was followed by a similar attempt from Mofokeng just five minutes later, moments before Makhehlenii Makhaula launched a long-range stinger which could only be parried out for a corner by the Amakhosi gloveman.

Bvuma was kept busy throughout the dying moments, denying Deon Hotto twice in the final 10 minutes to keep things goalless. He looked to have pulled off a crucial last-gasp save in injury time to thwart Mofokeng who had surged into the penalty area, but it was aided by a pull from Njabulo Blom and the referee swiftly pointed to the penalty spot.

Patrick Maswanganyi stepped up to take the spot kick, producing an audacious chip that sent Bvuma the wrong way with seconds left on the clock. There was to be no way back for the visitors, who looked to launch the ball upfield in search of an unlikely equaliser.

The three points eventually went the way of the Buccaneers, who showed immense grit to triumph once again in the famous Derby.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen (Shandu 83’), Hotto, Mbatha (Mako 83’), Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Nkota (Dlalmini 46’), Mofokeng, Mabasa (Makgopa 75’).

The blockbuster encounter kicks February’s football action off in spectacular fashion as the two biggest sporting brands in South Africa look to write another chapter in the country’s marquee sporting rivalry. It is the first match in a demanding eight-day stretch for the Buccaneers, who have more tricky assignments on the road in the coming week.

Form Guide

Focus however remains on Saturday’s battle for three crucial league points which arrives with the hosts looking to close the gap on the current log leaders, while their visitors attempt to continue their ascent up the table. Expectations from both sets of fans will be high heading into this particular fixture after some confidence-boosting performances over the weekend.

The Buccaneers were away to Richards Bay for their Nedbank Cup opener and returned with a straightforward 3-1 victory. It was their third cup fixture in a row – following a strong finish to the CAF Champions League group stage – and their third away victory after similar results against CR Belouizdad and Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

José Riveiro’s troops now return to league football six points adrift from the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns, who also have a game in hand. The gap could have been narrower if not for a slip-up on the road in their last Premiership encounter where they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City. That defeat was their second in their last five league games with the other also occurring through an identical scoreline, this time at home to Stellenbosch.

The other three matches during this stretch of fixtures have all ended favourably for the Sea Robbers, who have displayed a ruthless streak at times with 12 goals scored in thsi trio of victories that included an 8-1 thumping of Marumo Gallants in what remains their last home league outing.

Their fiercest rivals are the next side to step on their turf, and arrive on the back of a commanding 4-0 win at FNB Stadium against lower league outfit, Free Agents in the Nedbank Cup. It was their second win in as many matches after overcoming a 10-man Sekhukhune United at home in the Premiership the previous week.

Unlike the Sea Robbers, the bulk of Amakhosi’s outings this year have come in the league where they currently sit in fifth place after 14 games played. Their recent form has been just as up and down however, with three wins and two defeats in their last five.

It would not be completely amiss to blame their inconsistent form on recent woes in front of goal, as Chiefs have only found the net four times in five league matches. However, their convincing triumph against the minnows from Eersterust could be the tonic needed to produce a winning performance against their Soweto rivals.

Team News

The in-form Wandile Duba is unlikely to feature for Chiefs after lasting only 45 minutes in their Nedbank Cup triumph. He is a doubt for the clash after picking up a knee injury while his side has been dealt a further blow through suspension, with new signing Tashreeq Morris forced to wait for his Amakhosi debut as he serves a two-match ban after he was red-carded in what turned out to be his final SuperSport United appearance.

The 30-year-old forward is among three new names in the away side’s roster, along with midfielder Thabo Cele and Congolese winger Glody Lilepo. Pirates have had some activity of their own in the recently-concluded transfer window with Katlego Otladisa and Gilberto both out on loan at Sekhukhune United and Petro de Luanda, respectively.

A noteworthy boost for the home side comes in the form of defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, who is again eligible for selection. The defender sat out the trip to KZN, serving out his one-match suspension picked up through an accumulation of yellow cards.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The 20-year-old already possesses an impressive catalog of standout performances in big games, and could add a Soweto Derby masterclass to the list. Effective across the attacking third, he comes into the fixture in impressive form after scoring in three consecutive CAF Champions League matches before bagging two Nedbank Cup assists in Pirates’ most recent outing.

Mduduzi Shabalala (Kaizer Chiefs): Shabalala has long established himself as one to look out for in the future, and appears to be making significant strides towards realising his early promise. At 21, the young forward is one of Chiefs’ most influential attackers and his effect in the final third is reflected through six goal contributions this season.

Head-to-Head

The Soweto Derby has rarely been accused of not living up to its prestigious billing and its most recent editions have more than delivered the expected fireworks. Saturday’s encounter will be taking place nearly six years to the day since the fixture last failed to produce a winner.

It was Pirates who emerged victorious home and away last season, beating Chiefs 1-0 through Evidence Makgopa’s first-half strike before completing the double by edging a 3-2 thriller, twice coming from behind before pulling clear. Those two results mean that they go into the upcoming clash with a three-match winning streak across competitions, having also triumphed in their most recent cup encounter.

While Saturday’s hosts hold the bragging rights, their home derbies have been tight of late as far as head-to-head results are concerned. Each side has won seven out of the last 20 such encounters, sharing the spoils on six occasions. The visitors slightly edge the goal-scoring stakes with 25 goals to the Buccaneers’ 24.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 15:30 with fans encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays.  The match will be broadcast on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1.

Tickets to attend the fixture are sold out.

Located opposite Gate M at FNB Stadium, this vibrant beer garden promises to be a celebration of football, music, and togetherness, offering a fun and festive atmosphere for all match-goers. Gates open at 11h30, exclusively to ticket holders for the game.

Bertie Grobbelaar, CEO of SMSA, said:

“We are proud to partner with Carling Black Label to create an experience that brings fans together before one of the biggest fixtures of the year. By encouraging spectators to arrive early, we aim to reduce congestion on the roads and ease access into the stadium, making match day safer and more enjoyable for everyone. We are delighted that SAB has joined us in this initiative to make Derby Day even more memorable.”

Attendees will enjoy an incredible lineup of South African musical talent on the Beer Garden stage, featuring:

• DJ Stopper: 12h15 – 13h00
• Muzi: 13h00 – 13h45
• DBN Gogo: 13h45 – 14h30

Powered by the SAB Gig Rig and state-of-the-art sound systems, the performances will conclude at 14h30, ensuring fans have ample time to find their seats before kick-off.

What fans can expect at the Early Arrival Beer Garden:

• A wide selection of SAB beverages, including Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Carling Black Label, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish. All drinks are priced at R40 per 500ml can, with cash and card payments accepted.
• A variety of food vendors offering tasty snacks and meals.
• Ample seating under Carling Black Label umbrellas to unwind and connect with fellow fans.
• Test your skills at the SAB Activation for a chance to win exciting prizes

Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) has introduced a Park and Ride system that aims to address the long-standing issue of traffic congestion experienced during the Derby and to expand the public transport options available to attendees. The decision follows the tremendous success of the park and ride option at the recent Chris Brown concert, where nearly 20 000 patrons utilised the service on each concert day.

Speaking about the initiative, Bertie Grobbelaar, CEO of SMSA, stated:

“The massive success of the park and ride option at the Chris Brown concert demonstrates the significant demand for alternative and convenient transport solutions. We are excited to extend this option to Derby attendees, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free match-day experience.”

To further streamline the experience, the traffic and transport management plan for the Derby includes dedicated bus lanes to and from the venue, ensuring minimal delays and maximum convenience.

Park and Ride Details:

SA Park and Ride offers the following convenient pickup points, where spectators can safely leave their vehicles under the supervision of trained security personnel and be transported to and from the venue:

To further streamline the experience, the traffic and transport management plan for the Derby includes dedicated bus lanes to and from the venue, ensuring minimal delays and maximum convenience.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for the park and ride option are available now online at www.ticketpro.co.za

SMSA encourages all attendees to take advantage of this stress-free transport option and join us in making this Derby not only a thrilling match but also an event marked by efficient and safe travel.

For more information, visit our website or contact our offices at 011 247 5310 alternatively visit www.parkandridesa.com

According to recent numbers, only 15,000 tickets remain.

Ticket Information:

General Stand Tickets are available at TicketPro outlets nationwide. Prices start at just R100.

Hospitality Packages:

Take your match-day experience to the next level with exclusive hospitality tickets available from SAIL:

• Standard Hospitality: R3,495
• Premium Hospitality: R4,250
• VVIP Experience: R8,250

For more information on hospitality packages, email bookings@sail.co.za or call 082 805 3150

Supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets on time to avoid any disappointment.

Ticket Information:

General Stand Tickets are available at TicketPro outlets nationwide. Prices start at just R100.

Hospitality Packages:

Take your match-day experience to the next level with exclusive hospitality tickets available from SAIL:

• Standard Hospitality: R3,495
• Premium Hospitality: R4,250
• VVIP Experience: R8,250

For more information on hospitality packages, email bookings@sail.co.za or call 082 805 3150.