By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates experienced different fortunes during their midweek PSL assignments and those games will set the tone for Saturday’s Soweto Derby showdown.
The Buccaneers enter this traditional FNB Stadium fixture fresh from Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw with bottom-placed Cape Town Spurs.
They come up against old foes Amakhosi who are yet to appease their fans despite edging Golden Arrows 1-0 on Tuesday.
Just a point separates the two giants as Pirates sit fifth on the PSL table while Chiefs are a rung below.
Bidding to reduce the gap between themselves and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns leaves the Soweto heavyweights still keen on revival after weeks of angering their fans.
“When you face these types of games, we need to exercise an extra element of focus,” Pirates coach Jose Riveiro told the media on Thursday afternoon.
“Our key priority is that we can silence the noise and do what we do better, which is playing football.”
By surrendering an early lead to draw with Spurs, the Buccaneers plunged into what could be a demoralising situation heading into Saturday’s derby.
Riveiro and his men will be hoping to get over Wednesday’s setback and complete a double over Chiefs, who they edged 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
But Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson has declared his side is ready to turn the tables.
“We have prepared ourselves well for this particular derby and we are going to enjoy ourselves,” said Johnson.
“We are going to … do our best. We have to go out there and give the people joy.”
Although Chiefs have suffered criticism in their struggle to close in on Sundowns, they have drawn positives from the seven clean sheets they have kept in their last eight outings across all competitions.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates forward Evidence Makgopa controls the ball while Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe monitors him closely.
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
