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THE Buccaneers have picked up just six points from five home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a goalless draw with Golden Arrows early this month.
Chiefs saw their strong run in the league (seven games unbeaten and 10 points from the last 12 available) brought to an end when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Polokwane City in Durban earlier this month.
The Amakhosi are unbeaten away from home this season (two wins and four draws from six matches), with their last result on the road a goalless draw at Highlands Park early this month.
Last season Pirates took four points off Chiefs, with the teams drawing 0-0 in the first half of the campaign, before the Buccaneers claimed a 3-1 win in the return game.
The team in black and white are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against their Soweto derby rivals.
Most recent starting 11:
Orlando Pirates: Mabokgwane, Matlaba, Maela, Marcelo, Jele, Nyauza (Thopola 46’), Mlambo, Nyatama, Lorch (Qalinge 81’), Mulenga, Shonga (Maphangule 81’).
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Mphahlele, Ngezana, Booysen, Walusimbi, Maluleka, Ntshangase, Manyama (Ekstein 75’), Billiat, Zuma (Parker 81’), Moon (Paez 63’).
What They Said:
Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele:
“For us it’s very important to focus on our strengths‚”said Jele.
“We don’t want to buy the talk that Chiefs are the underdogs simply because of our previous league results against them.
“I can’t say much about Chiefs but there’s a lot of homework that we’ve done on their current team which is different to the one we beat 3-1 when we last met in March.
“The guys are motivated and you can’t motivate them more when they are going to play in the derby.
“So for us it is just to implement what we’ve been doing at training.”
Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune:
“It’s a big one, special one, exciting one. Already since I was in the Bafana Bafana camp, people were starting to talk about the Derby, but it was a bit unfair on us as players as we had other games to focus on,” said Khune.
“But it is the norm in South Africa and we understand that. It’s an exciting game, and everyone wants to go to that match and they can’t wait. Everyone can’t wait for it in the country, across borders – people will be driving and flying in.
“The supporters will come to rally behind the team, so all we have to do is put a smile on their faces.”
Key Players:
Orlando Pirates
Vincent Pule: The Sea Robbers answer to Khama Billiat, Pule has been in superb form for Pirates since his move to the club ahead of the start of the current campaign.
With three goals in two assists in nine matches, the attacker has quickly established himself as an important member of the squad and he could wellve to be the difference alongside Thembinkosi Lorch in what is a powerful attack.
Xola Mlambo pro: The midfield kingpin has played all but 22 minutes of every league game for the Buccaneers this season in a breakthrough campaign.
Key in breaking down opposition attacks and sparking attacking moves, Milutin Sredojevic will be counting on the midfielder to find a way in behind the Amakhosi defence as Pirates aim to extend their unbeaten run in the Soweto Derby.
Kaizer Chiefs
Khama Billiat: The Zimbabwe international has directly contributed to nine goals in 13 games for the Glamour since joining the Naturena club from Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the 2018-19 season.
The attacker is an injury doubt for the clash and is set to undergo a late fitness test. Giovanni Solinas’ will be hoping he is fit to play, having constantly labeled Billiat as the best player in the league.
Siyabonga Ngezana: The young centre-back has established himself as an integral member of Solinas’ squad this season, and has started eight straight league games for the club leading into this weekend’s clash.
Solinas will be hoping for another solid showing from Ngezana in front of the country’s No 1 goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, with the duo expected to play a key role if the Amakhosi are to finally break their Derby hoodoo. — SuperSport
derick.khumalo