The Soweto Derby: Saleng vs Who?

The Soweto Derby is the one game on the South African football calendar that is never missed, even by those who don’t follow the sport religiously. It is a game of immense pressure, and pride, that separates Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs fans from complete ecstasy or downright agony. 

Neither team are in the title race this season with Mamelodi Sundowns requiring just nine points from their final nine games to wrap up a sixth consecutive title, but CAF Inter-club qualification is still up for grabs and both sides will be aiming to secure that second CAF Champions League spot for the 2022/23 campaign.

The Soweto giants are not short of having superstars that set the stage alight over the past decades, but in the current era, they’ve been short of having those talismanic figures who lead the club and traditionally the country to greater heights.

Thembinkosi Lorch has always promised to be that figure, PSL Footballer of the Season, THAT evening in Cairo, there’s been glimpses of what could be – but injuries have curtailed his rise and in this season, Monnapule Saleng has stepped up to be their go-to guy. 

Despite only making his first start in Match Week 10, Saleng has scored nine goals and registered four assists in the 15 starts that followed and there have been debates wrangling on social media that he could be the first player from the club since Nyoso to scoop the most coveted individual honour in local football.

“Well definitely he should be in the [Player of the Season] debate, but it’s very tricky to say that now, because we’re a team that’s growing one game at a time,” his teammate Thabang Monare said.

“I feel like sometimes we… get in the way of allowing players to grow. I think, let Saleng grow into the great footballer he is, and let’s not put him under pressure, he’s playing for a team.

“He’s a very good player but I don’t think that statement of saying… he might be Footballer of the Season… Yes, he is capable of that but we are a team and we’re working together. 

“I feel like people aren’t allowing him to grow, that’s the pressure we always get under on social media, where we feel like you have to do certain things, but we’re playing for a team, we know where we are going and we’re growing every day.”

Saleng has shown that blistering pace, direct running, and end product that saw him earn a move to Pirates from Free State Stars in 2021 when he scooped the National First Division Golden Boot award with 13 league goals.

In Chiefs’ camp, there’s been no such figure, a season of inconsistencies, as they’ve failed to string a run of more than three wins consecutively all season and no player has stepped up to be the figure they can rely on.

Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat were poised to be those leaders, but with the Bafana Bafana winger struggling for form and the latter injured for the remainder of the season, it’s been a game of musical chairs of who would be their match-winner.

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Back in October, Amakhosi head coach Arthur Zwane lauded Kgaogelo Sekgota as their ‘star player’ as he produced some live-wire displays on a consistent basis in that run of three straight wins. But with only two assists to show for it, he’s fallen down the pecking order. 

One could argue that 19-year-old academy product Mduduzi Shabalala could also be that player who could bring the spark in the Soweto Derby but within writing this, as I’ve previously mentioned, the only thing consistent this season for Chiefs has been their inconsistencies.

Their January signing from the Zambia Super League side Nchanga Rangers is now one that could potentially be looked at. Christian Saile Basomboli, the DR Congo hitman, scored and grabbed an assist in his first three games to widespread applause from the Amakhosi faithful, but his indifferent game in the 3-2 defeat against Golden Arrows will leave some question marks coming into the biggest fixture in the country this weekend.

However, some internal insight within the team, someone who sees him up close and personal, believes he’s got the potential to be that goal scorer that the team so clearly craves.

“Chris has done so well since he got his chance to play, I’ve seen Chris when he came for trials that he was a very good player and I believe the team made a good decision to sign him,” goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma said when asked by iDiski Times.

“I believe you haven’t seen much of him, because what he does at training, it’s very good and we’re just looking forward to the next games and making sure he performs so the team can win.

“But it’s not only him, it’s a collective thing. But to sum up, he;’s a very good player and we’re happy to have him at Chiefs.”

Who will step up on the day is anyone’s guess, but if I had to be a betting man, I would put my money on Saleng – however, as all who’ve tasted the Derby before have said, form literally goes out the window, just ask Yusuf Maart.

This feature, brought to you by DStv, first appeared in Edition 92 of iDiski Times.