Posted in News, Team News on Oct 24, 2018.
“A Derby is always special,” said coach Giovanni Solinas at a PSL press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “You can breathe the atmosphere and it is a privilege to be involved. The Soweto Derby is a football party.”
Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 27 October. The game is already sold out, so please don’t come to the stadium if you don’t have a ticket. Supporters who do have a ticket, please come early to the stadium.
When queried if he will change something to his team for the Derby, the Italian made clear that “we don’t change our philosophy of playing and our way of preparation for specific games, but everybody is highly motivated.”
It was also highlighted that Chiefs’ last Derby win came on 6 December 2014, when goals from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Siphelele Mthembu helped the Glamour Boys to a 2-0 victory.
Amakhosi failed to win one of the last nine Derbies with six matches ending in a draw, while the Buccaneers won three times. Chiefs did, however, win the Telkom Knockout semifinal between the two sides on penalties, although the score was goalless after 120 minutes of play.
Overall, the Glamour Boys are still far ahead when it comes Derby stats. The first clash between Chiefs and Pirates took place on 24 January 1970, only 17 days after Amakhosi’s foundation. The Buccaneers won 6-4. Since, however, Chiefs won 67 of the 163 Soweto Derbies played thus far. Pirates won 39, while 52 games finished in a draw. Five matches were abandoned.
Solinas is not too concerned about the recent Derby history. “A game becomes history as soon as it is played. What is in the past is in the past. Saturday’s game is a new game. I want to enjoy this match, as it is the first time that I step onto this stage.”
The coach also spoke briefly about the injuries of Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat. “They are training. We will wait for the medical staff to make the final decision if they will be able to play. On the other hand, injured or not, we will play with eleven players. If somebody is injured, another will get his opportunity to shine. The Derby is a big game for big players.”
Asked about the outcome of Saturday’s Soweto Derby, the coach commented: “Kaizer Chiefs always play to win. We want to play our normal game, which is beautiful attacking football.”
Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 27 October. The game is already sold out, so please don’t come to the stadium if you don’t have a ticket. Supporters who do have a ticket, please come early to the stadium.
When queried if he will change something to his team for the Derby, the Italian made clear that “we don’t change our philosophy of playing and our way of preparation for specific games, but everybody is highly motivated.”
It was also highlighted that Chiefs’ last Derby win came on 6 December 2014, when goals from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Siphelele Mthembu helped the Glamour Boys to a 2-0 victory.
Amakhosi failed to win one of the last nine Derbies with six matches ending in a draw, while the Buccaneers won three times. Chiefs did, however, win the Telkom Knockout semifinal between the two sides on penalties, although the score was goalless after 120 minutes of play.
Overall, the Glamour Boys are still far ahead when it comes Derby stats. The first clash between Chiefs and Pirates took place on 24 January 1970, only 17 days after Amakhosi’s foundation. The Buccaneers won 6-4. Since, however, Chiefs won 67 of the 163 Soweto Derbies played thus far. Pirates won 39, while 52 games finished in a draw. Five matches were abandoned.
Solinas is not too concerned about the recent Derby history. “A game becomes history as soon as it is played. What is in the past is in the past. Saturday’s game is a new game. I want to enjoy this match, as it is the first time that I step onto this stage.”
The coach also spoke briefly about the injuries of Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat. “They are training. We will wait for the medical staff to make the final decision if they will be able to play. On the other hand, injured or not, we will play with eleven players. If somebody is injured, another will get his opportunity to shine. The Derby is a big game for big players.”
Asked about the outcome of Saturday’s Soweto Derby, the coach commented: “Kaizer Chiefs always play to win. We want to play our normal game, which is beautiful attacking football.”
