Ebson ‘Sugar’ Muguyo used to be a terror to Kaizer Chiefs’ opponents’ defence in the late seventies. The Zimbabwean striker was the first Amakhosi to score a hat-trick in an official Soweto Derby. In total, he scored nine Derby goals. Today, Muguyo will be in the stands to watch Kaizer Chiefs face Orlando Pirates. “It will be my first Derby in 35 years.”

Muguyo joined Amakhosi in November 1975. His first game for the Glamour Boys came on 19 November 1975, in a BP Top 16 Replay game against Pretoria Callies, providing an assist for Kaizer Motaung to score.

His first Derby arrived soon after, on Saturday, 29 November, the BP Top 8 semifinal. The game finished in 3-3, Muguyo scored the 1-0.

History was made in the replay. Not only did Chiefs win 5-1 (3 December 1975), but the Zimbabwean scored a hat-trick, the first ever for an Amakhosi player in a Derby. That’s now 40 years ago.

In the following seasons Muguyo would become a goal scoring phenomenon. In his first full season alone, in 1976, he netted 26 goals (18 for the league and eight in cup games). The striker left the Club in 1980 due to persistent knee problems.

The now 65-year-old hasn’t seen a Derby live since leaving the Amakhosi, although he’s still a close follower of the Club’s results. “My whole family supports Kaizer Chiefs,” Muguyo comments with a broad smile on his face.

Chiefs invited the Zimbabwean to Saturday’s Derby.

On Friday, at the Village, Muguyo met several of his former teammates, including ‘General’ Lamola, Jackie Masike, Lucky Stylianou, Pelé Blaschke and, of course, Kaizer ‘Chincha Guluva’ Motaung, Kaizer Chiefs’ Chairman.

In Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), where Muguyo lives, he keeps close taps on Amakhosi’s performances. “We often watch the games with a few others,” he comments. “There are a lot of Kaizer Chiefs supporters in Bulawayo.”

The former striker is a big fan of Bernard Parker: “He’s calm and collected when on the ball. However, he has such a drive to excel, that sometimes he’s a bit too hard on himself, especially when he misses a chance. For a striker that is part and parcel of the game. Bernard shouldn’t worry too much about it and just be ready for the next chance to arrive. He’s a classy player, that’s for sure.”

Muguyo also likes Itumeleng Khune: “A great goalkeeper. On the other hand, Chiefs always seems to have good goalkeepers. He fits that line of excellence.”

Other players he loves to watch are Siphiwe Tshabalala (“give that boy the ball and he will do whatever with it”), George Lebese (“a typical winger - when marked by only one opponent, that defender will die. That’s why they usually put two on him, which creates space for his teammates”), Erick Mathoho (“whenever there’s danger, he puts the danger away. He’s like a fireman”) and, of course, his countryman Willard Katsande.

“Willard is a true hard man,” Muguyo says. “He has no time to show his ball skills, above all because that’s not requested of him in that position. He must win the ball and create stability in the midfield and that’s what he does perfectly.”

Today’s Soweto Derby will take place at the FNB Stadium at 15:30.

“I can’t wait for kick-off,” Muguyo concludes. “I feel as if I have to play myself. I am slightly nervous and anxious, like in my playing days. I am confident that we will do well.”