Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates last met Nov. 2, 2019 and the match ended in an exhilarating 2-2 draw. On that particular Saturday, the stalemate was broken on penalties in the Telkom Knock-out Cup quarter-final duel. Chiefs knocked Pirates out of the cup by 4-2 score margin at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This afternoon, they will cross swords in the Absa Premiership league stakes.
Johannesburg – Three points will be up for grabs when Chiefs host their Soweto arch rivals in the league at the colossal 94-seater FNB Stadium Nov. 9, 2019 at 15:30.
It was in the 2014/15 season when Amakhosi registered a victory against Pirates in a league match. The Buccaneers have won three of the last 10 contests and Chiefs one, six draws – the last came earlier this year in January.
Even so, Chiefs are at the pinnacle of the log with 25 points after 10 games. They are undoubtedly the hot favourites to floor Pirates in the forthcoming tie.
Positioned 9th on the log with 13 points, Orlando Pirates have won three out of their 10 games this season. With three loses so far, they go into their 11th league fixture as underdogs today.
Limping from one game to the next hoping to turn the corner, the Pirates ship has little gas in its tank to power them into a force they are always known to be. Compounding their odds is captain Happy Jele who is serving suspension and will sit this one out.
Few will dispute that Soweto derbies are immune to form and always too close to call. Favorably calendered as one of the biggest derbies in Africa, it’s audience strench as far as America and Europe. The 49-year-old derby is that huge.
Last weekend’s loss to Chiefs and the widening 12-point gap between them in the league will weigh heavily on Orlando Pirates’ shoulders as they gear up to face the lively Amakhosi firing on all cylinders.
While the Buccaneers will, in part, bank on their strike force led by Tshegofatso Mabaso and Thembinkosi Lorch to be at their peak, Amakhosi‘ swelling rise is supercharged by Serbian Samir Nirkovic and the dazzling Zimbabwean international Khama Billiat at best.