History on the side of Chiefs as Derby beckons

All week long there has been talk in taxis, at places of work, restaurants and school grounds about Saturday’s Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.

This is a rivalry that goes back more than four decades with fans eagerly anticipating the clash of ‘father’ and ‘son’, with the victor’s fans getting bragging rights over their friends in the days and weeks following the Derby. It all means that there is much more at stake than just three points.

The Rivalry

Orlando and Phefeni, the two suburbs of Soweto where Pirates and Chiefs hail from, are a stone’s throw away from each other. Since the formation of Amakhosi on 7 January 1970, the clubs have had a fierce rivalry and have battled for township supremacy, with Chiefs generally holding the upper hand. The Soweto Derby is one of the biggest games on the African continent and it is listed among the biggest football rivalries in the world. The match is played in front of a crowd of more than 90 000 fans with millions more glued to their television screens.

History favours?

Saturday’s clash will be the 160th game in all competitions between Pirates and Chiefs since they began squaring off back in 1970. However, on five occasions the game was not completed. This happened for a variety of reasons. But 154 games went the full distance. Chiefs hold the edge in these matches, notching up 67 wins to Pirates’ 38 victories. Forty-nine games ended in a draw.

Last season, the fans were treated to four clashes between the two sides. Pirates won one league game, while they drew the other. The clubs also met in the Telkom Knockout semifinal and the Nedbank Cup Last 32, with Chiefs winning the former (on penalties) and Pirates the latter.

Recent times

Since the formation of the PSL ahead of the 1996/97 season the clubs have faced each other 40 times in league games. In the early years of the PSL, Pirates generally dominated and Chiefs had to wait six games and three years to get their first Derby win. It came in February 1999 when a pair of goals from Thabang Lebese set Amakhosi on their way to a 2-1 triumph at Soccer City. Through the 40 PSL-era league meetings between Pirates and Chiefs, the Amakhosi have won 11 games, Pirates managing 9 wins and 20 of the games have been draws.

Chiefs though are presently on a good run away against Pirates, they are undefeated in their last four away league games when travelling to face Pirates - winning twice in 2013/14 and 2014/15, with draws in 2015/16 and 2012/13.

The Links

Chiefs know Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral all too well and vice versa. The Turkish mentor had two spells at the helm of the Amakhosi, the first was between 1999 and 2003 and again from 2007 to 2009. Ertugral won six cup titles with Chiefs, but he never managed to win a league title. Only two Glamour Boys, goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Siphiwe Tshabalala, remain from Ertugral’s time at the Amakhosi.