We are hours away from the first Soweto derby of the season between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. We expect at least seven players to enjoy their first taste of this mega event.
Amakhosi have shown clear improvement this season, largely thanks to new arrivals such as Lebohang Maboe and Aden McCarthy.
NEW IMPACT AT KAIZER CHIEFS
Maboe has brought intelligence and finesse to the number six role, while McCarthy, promoted from the reserve team, has added speed, aggression and technical quality in central defence, while also covering at left-back when needed.
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Up front, the Guinea-Bissau striker Flavio Da Silva is Amakhosi’s top goalscorer with seven goals. A goal in his first Soweto derby will endear him to Amakhosi supporters on a new, deeper level.
Another player who has stabilised and injected energy in the Kaizer Chiefs midfield is Siphesihle Ndlovu, but the former Buccaneer is not new to the Soweto derby.
Also read: Former Kaizer Chiefs player gets 12-year jail sentence
ORLANDO PIRATES’ NEW PLAYERS
A similar impact has been seen at Orlando Pirates following the arrivals of players such as Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi. Appollis, who joined from Polokwane City as a Bafana Bafana international, has scored five goals and provided seven assists so far. Moremi arrived from AmaZulu and has contributed eight goals and two assists this season.
A goal from Appollis or Moremi in their first Soweto derby is something you can confidently bet on.
Full list of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates players set to make Soweto derby debuts:
- Oswin Appollis
- Tshepang Moremi
- Yanela Mbuthuma
- Lebohang Maboe
- Khanyisa Mayo
- Aden McCarthy
- Flavio Da Silva.
There are additional players from both teams who could experience their first Soweto derby this weekend. However, the list above highlights those most likely to feature in the starting line-ups.
WHICH TEAM TO EXPECT TO WIN THE SOWETO DERBY BETWEEN KAIZER CHIEFS AND ORLANDO PIRATES?
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