“The week ahead of a Derby is nerve wrecking,” reflects Kaizer Chiefs legend Thabo Mooki about what it means to play in the Soweto Derby. “The whole week you can’t sleep, as you are only thinking about the game.”

The midfielder played for Amakhosi from 1994 to 2009, winning a variety of trophies wearing the Gold and Black jersey, including the league title in 2004 and 2005.

Mooki participated in an activation from the Absa Premiership in front of the Absa bank at Soweto’s Maponya Mall early this afternoon. Tsiki-Tsiki, as he was nicknamed, represented Chiefs, while Steve Lekoelea represented Orlando Pirates.

Fans got an opportunity to pose with the legend of their favourite club and the league trophy. Afterwards, the photo taken would be handed over to the excited fan. The first 170 supporters who arrived with an Absa banking card got a free ticket for Saturday’s clash between Amakhosi and the Buccaneers.

“With the Derby,” adds Mooki, “you would also care knowing everything about your opponent even before the coach would tell you. You planned for yourself.”

“The moment I entered the field before the game and seeing all those spectators, my nervousness would be gone. The Chiefs supporters are something special. They would come as far as the Cape. We knew that and that’s why we always played for the supporters. We wanted to give them something to cheer about and that meant booking the three points.”

Absa’s General Manager Group Marketing Matshepo Mojala said about the event: “Like our fans, we too are passionate about local football. That’s why we decided to come to the Maponya Mall and hand out Absa Premiership tickets for the Soweto Derby. We hope this little gesture will help reignite the passion for live local football among our fans.”