Thakasani Khumalo

This Saturday South Africa’s football fraternity will be in twain, as the biggest African football showpiece takes place between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, in FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.

The Soweto derby, the football spectacle where good friends turn against each other, where families are torn apart. Here we look at three key things you should look for.

The clash of the German tacticians.

What will make this match even more entertaining is the fact that the rivalry will not only be on the pitch but also in the dugout between the Germans. It’s the clash of two German greats. From the Orlando Pirate’s German ‘Machine’ with counter-attack football and the winning mentality that he has instilled in this Orlando Pirates side to the German ‘Shepard’ whose long ball philosophy and set-piece perilous football has seen his troop at the summit of the log standings. If there’s anything you should expect, it’s an infuriated dug out between the Germans.

Pirates out to revenge and Chiefs cementing the top spot.

Orlando Pirates will be out to revenge themselves when they lock horns with their fiercely rivalry Kaizer Chiefs, they were brutalized by their neighbors twice in a month last year November, first dumped out of Telkom Knock-out, then a league defeats a week later, so expect them to be in full force. On the other end expect chiefs to be at their best, the clash means a lot to them as it should, most importantly; they will be hoping to cement their place at the top and trying to end a 4 and a half trophy-less spell. They will be more than happy to win this tie with Mamelodi Sundowns lurking adrift them. 

Mhango Vs Nurkovic.

It’s no lie that two of the Soweto giants will be relying on their respective talisman Gabadinho Mhango and Samir Nurkovic. The former’s pace and ability to read the game should be of Pirate’s advantage, whilst the latter’s dangerous prowess and gigantic physique should do for Chiefs. What is more arousing is the fact that these two are the current leading scores for their teams, with Mhango being leading goal scorer for the division, both will be looking to pounce more goal to win the coveted prize.

We must prepare ourselves for a cracker this Saturday 15:00h, make sure you do not miss a minute of this showdown, as Mapensela says ‘izodlala iTV.’ 

Picture: @KickOffMagazine