Doctor Khumalo said that midweek games will be a thing of the past when the two giants of South African football, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs meet in a highly anticipated encounter at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 8 December 2012; kick-off 15:30.

The game was sold out two weeks before the date of the encounter and the two teams played midweek with Kaizer Chiefs sending Ajax Cape Town packing on Wednesday while Orlando Pirates could only share the spoils in Cape Town against the newly promoted outfit, Chippa United.

Doc Khumalo voted by the Amakhosi as second best Kaizer Chiefs player ever (behind the late Ace Ntsoelengoe) in a poll conducted by Amakhosi magazine back in 2010 played some of his best games in the gold and black against Orlando Pirates.

“The master of Shibobo”, Doc was a dribbling wizard who found it easy putting the ball in between opponents’ legs, Mandla Sithole, Bernard Leshozi, Tso Vilakazi all of Orlando Pirates (on his benefit game) were on the receiving end.

“We always wanted to beat Orlando Pirates and have as much fun as we can on the pitch,” said Khumalo on Thursday afternoon.

Doc a close friend to Orlando Pirates assistant coach, Tebogo Moloi said they avoided each other on the pitch, “Tebza would be playing on the left and I will be operating on the opposite field. If a player gets injured we would get time to catch up on the pitch; “what is happening after the game?” He would ask,” he revealed with laughter.

The two will be sitting on the opposite sides on Saturday and will be hoping that the players on the field will do the wonders.

“It is different when you are a Coach. I used to ask myself as a player why coaches always throw their hands in the air during games and sometimes it has little to do with players on the pitch but with match officials.

“The referees need to up their game what happened against Ajax Cape Town cannot be allowed to continue. The refereeing on that day was not up to scratch and hopefully this will not happen on Saturday.

Turning back to the team Khumalo said; “I have faith in the boys and I believe they can win the derby this coming Saturday. Bernard Parker has been in a good form and he might rise on the day; there is also Majoro (Lehlohonolo) and Kingston (Nkhatha) are all capable of causing damage to the opponents.

“Reneilwe Letsholonyane has been in good form; Siphiwe Tshabalala can change the game in our favour any time, and so are the defenders as you saw Gaxa (Pa) against Ajax. People also say less about goalkeepers; Itu (Khune) has what it takes to win the game for us. Goalkeepers play an important role and can produce a match winning performance on the day.

I trust all the guys and I cannot single out the one who will be a hero come Saturday. The most important thing is for each and everyone to perform to the best of their ability and work as a unit.

“People are talking about Wednesday’s games but that is history; a new day, a new date, a different game – it will be a different ball game all together,” added Khumalo.