Kaizer Chiefs face Orlando Pirates again on Saturday, 7 November. This time, however, it’s not an Absa Premiership fixture, but the Telkom Knockout semi-final. “It’s all about going to the next round and that’s the final,” Willard Katsande points out.

Amakhosi beat Golden Arrows 3-1 in a league game on Tuesday. “That was a big confidence booster,” reflects the midfielder, who, in the absence of Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala, wore the captaincy armband. “We played well and we could even have converted more chances.”

It was a fine display, especially after the 3-1 loss to the Buccaneers last weekend. “We learnt a lesson the hard way,” admits Katsande, who is always Driven to Excel.

Chiefs went seven games unbeaten at their fortress (FNB Stadium), before the Pirates loss. However, the Arrows win showed again that Amakhosi are a formidable force at home, especially if the twelfth man - the supporters - turn out in numbers.

“The true fans always come to the stadium,” comments Katsande, “also when the chips are a bit down. We saw it on Tuesday with the Arrows game. They were rallying behind us, which was marvellous to see. They were a big help.”

About being the captain in the Arrows match, the Zimbabwean says: “It feels special to captain Kaizer Chiefs, the biggest brand in African soccer. I got full support as well from ‘Shabba’, who is the real captain but didn’t feature in Tuesday’s match.”

Saturday’s Soweto Derby, this time for the Telkom Knockout semi-final, will take place again at the FNB Stadium (kick-off is at 15:00).

Tickets are on sale at a cost of R80 for the lower and middle tier of the stadium seating. The ones for the upper tier cost R40 and children under the age of 12 pay R10.