Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe said it was his childhood dream to play in the most anticipated match in Mzansi – the Soweto Derby next Saturday at FNB Stadium (15:30).
This after Sithebe missed the Derby last October due to stiff competition in the side, with coach Arthur Zwane opting for Yusuf Maart and former Chiefs midfielder Njabulo Blom.
The former, who Sithebe started the season with in the midfield, scored a blinding goal from range, catching goalie Siyabonga Mpontshane off his line, to see the ball nestled over him.
Chiefs went on to win that game, registering their fourth consecutive league win over Pirates, who they defeated also twice last season.
Pirates will look to end the rot, but this time, with Sithebe set to feature since Blom is gone, he would want to see the continuation of being on the winning side.
“It was good to be part of the Derby and the stadium was packed,” reminisces Sithebe.
“The feeling is nice and (so was) seeing people that were happy. Obviously the first game we won and going to this one, I think going to this one it’s going to be a tough one. But for me the feeling is good.”
Despite having lost four league Derbies on the trot, however, Pirates had the longest winning period over Chiefs. They went unbeaten in the last 12 derbies‚ which was their longest unbeaten run against Chiefs before coach Ernst Middendorp’s Chiefs beat Pirates won 3-2 on 8 November 2019.
Amakhosi’s longest unbeaten derby streak was 11-matches against the Bucs between May 1985 and November 1988.
In what will be the Derby number 177th since these two sides first met in the 1970, Sithebe’s family will be split apart. But this time things have slightly changed.
“Obviously at home there are a lot of people who are supporting either Pirates or Chiefs. But because I’m at Chiefs, they are supporting me,” said Sithebe.
Sithebe said he kept faith when he was not earning a game-time at Chiefs, though it knocked his confidence, after starting the first eight league matches of the season.
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After that, Sithebe was on the bench, sitting in five of the seven league matches. But he has now featured in the last four matches, including a brilliant carrying work against Maritzburg United last weekend in the Nedbank Cup last-32 win.
“All I can say is, as a player, I was always in the 18-man but I wasn’t starting,” reflected Sithebe.
“I knew that I would get the chance and I had to work so hard. Whatever the coach wants from me I need to work hard, I need to gain back my confidence and that is what I did.”
