Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has commended the resurgence of Orlando Pirates ahead of the upcoming Soweto Derby.
Zwane has admitted that Pirates are on a roll at the moment and his side will have to double their effort to have a chance of extending their winning streak against their bitter rivals.
Chiefs will face the BuccaneerD in the Soweto derby number 176, with the Calabash set to be full to rafters after it was confirmed that the biggest football match in Mzansi’s football calendar has been sold out.
However, Chiefs are not at their best at the moment, having failing to progress to the MTN8 final against Usuthu and now being without a win in their last three matches.
On the other hand, Pirates coach Jose Riveiro’s tactically masterclass sent a timely reminder of Bucs’ ruthlessness and attacking power to crush Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday to reach the final – leading even Zwane to praise Saturday’s opponents.
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“We know it is going to be a big game because Orlando Pirates is doing well at the moment, which is good for South African football,” said Zwane, who famously scored in one of the best Derbies that ended 2-2 in November 2007 in Durban.
“For us as well going into that game, we have to do everything to make sure that we do well and come up with positive results.”
Unlike Pirates, this will be the last game for Chiefs before the FIFA World Cup break between November and December. They will resume the campaign with another trip to Durban to face Golden Arrows on 31 December.
While things are not good at the moment for Chiefs, the past results before the Derby sometimes don’t usually matter, and Chiefs would be encouraged by that.
It is because Chiefs have won the last three Derbies, scoring five goals and conceding just once.
Chiefs, in 175 past derby meetings‚ have the upper hand too. They have won 72 and while Pirates have racked up 44 wins. There have been 53 draws and five abandoned matches. Chiefs have 223 Soweto Derby goals while the tally for Bucs is 190.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
