Posted in Features, News on Feb 28, 2020.
Jimmy Tau made a move across Soweto from Orlando Pirates to Kaizer Chiefs in August 2005. The move stunned many when he joined Amakhosi from their cross-town rivals. He went on to spend eight years at Chiefs and featured in 18 Soweto Derbies against Pirates in that time. He would defeat Pirates in two cup finals at Chiefs and would be part of the Chiefs team that did a league double over them, defeating them home and away in 2005-06.
For the defender who hails from Kimberley, featuring in the Derby for Chiefs was a dream come true as he spoke of the chance to have played for both teams in the derby. “As a player, I was honoured to have been part of the Soweto Derby. It is every child’s dream and having been part of it and managed to play for both teams was significant in my career. It is one game that brings the country to a stand-still. This is one game you want to be part of because of the history and heritage of what it means for both clubs.”
After Tau’s move to Chiefs for the 2005-06 season, he would come up against his former team in a league game on 29 October 2005 at the FNB Stadium. He reflects on his first derby as a Chiefs player adding: “My first Derby after having just moved from Pirates in October 2005 was one of most difficult Derbies. I was under lots of pressure and I had a lot to prove. My move to Chiefs did not go down well with Pirates as I was the captain there. it was a difficult game because I had to mark Lebogang Mokoena which was hard. But in the end, we won the game and I was man of the match.”
The former Amakhosi captain feels experience is key to performing well in the Derby. He believes that drawing on past experiences is key to winning this game. “When I was at Pirates, I was younger and did not know how to manage these kind of games. When I was at Chiefs the guys around and myself were more experienced. The more of these games you play in the more you able to help younger players. It is important to treat it as any other 90-minute game and go for the three points that are at stake and block everything else out,” Tau concludes.
For the defender who hails from Kimberley, featuring in the Derby for Chiefs was a dream come true as he spoke of the chance to have played for both teams in the derby. “As a player, I was honoured to have been part of the Soweto Derby. It is every child’s dream and having been part of it and managed to play for both teams was significant in my career. It is one game that brings the country to a stand-still. This is one game you want to be part of because of the history and heritage of what it means for both clubs.”
After Tau’s move to Chiefs for the 2005-06 season, he would come up against his former team in a league game on 29 October 2005 at the FNB Stadium. He reflects on his first derby as a Chiefs player adding: “My first Derby after having just moved from Pirates in October 2005 was one of most difficult Derbies. I was under lots of pressure and I had a lot to prove. My move to Chiefs did not go down well with Pirates as I was the captain there. it was a difficult game because I had to mark Lebogang Mokoena which was hard. But in the end, we won the game and I was man of the match.”
The former Amakhosi captain feels experience is key to performing well in the Derby. He believes that drawing on past experiences is key to winning this game. “When I was at Pirates, I was younger and did not know how to manage these kind of games. When I was at Chiefs the guys around and myself were more experienced. The more of these games you play in the more you able to help younger players. It is important to treat it as any other 90-minute game and go for the three points that are at stake and block everything else out,” Tau concludes.
