Posted in News on Jul 20, 2011.
The clash between the Soweto giants is their first of two meetings in friendly competitions this month and the Amakhosi will relish the opportunity of playing against an Orlando Pirates team now under the guidance ship of Brazilian coach Julio Leal after the off season departure of Ruud Krol.
Both Pirates and Chiefs go into the game on a high as they were undefeated against Tottenham Hotspur in their opening matches, the Amakhosi managed a 1-0 win over Spurs on Saturday while Pirates held the North Londoners to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night.
The Challenge Derby
While Chiefs and Pirates have a four decades old rivalry their meetings in the Vodacom Challenge have been just as colourful and intense as their regular Absa Premiership and Cup clashes.
Under the old format of the Vodacom Challenge from 1999 – 2005 Chiefs and Pirates met just twice in the tournament, both occasions being in the final with each team winning one game.
The Amakhosi thanks to a late Lucky Maselesele goal clinched their first Vodacom Challenge title in the 2000 final defeating Pirates 1-0, while the teams clashed again in the 2004 final. On this occasion Pirates emerged the victors winning 2 -1 both of these finals took place in Durban.
Since the change of format in 2006 Chiefs have played Pirates on four occasions, The Amakhosi have won three of these meetings in 2006, 2008 and 2009 but were beaten by Pirates in the 2007 event. The signs are good for Chiefs who in six Voadcom Challenge meetings against Pirates have managed to win four of these games.
Special record
The 2011 Vodacom Challenge is also the first time since the 2006 face lift to the Challenge that both Chiefs and Pirates go into their derby game undefeated against the visiting English side, in past tournaments one of the teams has lost their opening game. So this year’s Challenge derby brings a change in the stats book, as both teams go into the match unbeaten after their first round of game.
