After not featuring in the earlier derby when Chiefs and Pirates played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Durban back in November, the speedy winger is looking forward to taking on Pirates with relish. Although Phala did not play in the earlier round against Pirates he is no stranger to playing and scoring in a Soweto derby, as he found his first goal for Chiefs in a league match at the start of April against The Amakhosi’s other Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows.

While the intensity of a Chiefs- Pirates match may be of a different level Phala believes that with his current form and input in recent times as an impact substitute he is ready for the challenge that Pirates brings with it.

Dream derby

It was a case of a dream Soweto derby debut for Phala when he came off the bench and scored Chiefs' third goal during their 3-1 win over Swallows in April. He is hoping that his second outing against a Soweto team this season will be just as fruitful as his first.

“Playing in a derby is really something special. You only get to really understand the rivalry between two Soweto teams when you feature in a game where the two are playing each other. Last month it was fantastic the way we played against Swallows and scoring in a debut makes the goal feel twice as important, through out that game you just got a sense that we could not lose. When they equalized we carried on going and scored two more, winning that game felt like we had won a cup final imagine they say that is supposed the less intense derby”.

On song

Phala, who has been used as a striker; central midfielder and left sided midfielder through the season, has found his place on the right side of midfield and has been pleased by the fact that he has been on top of his game in recent times.

“For me it was good to know that the coach believes that I can come on at any time and change the course of the game. Maybe it could have been for a game or two but like I once said before I enjoy coming into a game when the tempo is high, looking back at the pace of the game when Chiefs played Pirates earlier in the season anyone coming into this game will not have time to acclimatize. As a midfielder you know that coming into such a match you need to be battle ready, just thinking about the possibility of playing against Pirates inside that stadium is an exciting thought”.