Chiefs look to bring great form into Soweto derby

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Nov 07, 2019. 15:00

Kaizer Chiefs will hope to continue their great form in the Absa Premiership when they host Orlando Pirates for the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday 9 November 2019, kick-off at 15h30.

Chiefs racked up a fifth straight league win and extended their lead at the top of the log to seven points with a 2-0 victory at Chippa United on Wednesday, November 6 – Dumisani Zuma scored two goals as the team in gold and black maintained their 100 percent away record. Their home form is not too shabby either, with a haul of seven points from four matches.

Pirates played to a fourth draw of the season when they were held 0-0 at home by Maritzburg United on Tuesday, November 5. The Buccaneers have won just once in their last five league outings and have taken only four points from five away matches this season.

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Pirates have met in 67 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have claimed 24 wins compared to 15 for the Buccaneers, while no less than 28 encounters have ended in draws. The team in gold and black have won 13 of their 32 home matches in the rivalry, suffering six defeats in the process.

Pirates took four points off Chiefs in the teams’ league matches last season, winning 2-1 in the ‘away’ game at FNB Stadium in October 2018, while their ‘home’ game at the same venue in February 2019 ended in a 1-1 draw. The Buccaneers are unbeaten in the last nine league matches against their Soweto derby rivals.

Chiefs’ line-up from their 2-0 win over Chippa on November 6: Bvuma, Moleko (Maluleka 46’), Cardoso, Ngezana (Gordinho 82’), Ntiya-Ntiya, Zuma, Katsande, Zulu, Parker, Kambole (Castro 70’), Nurkovic.

Pirates’ line-up from their 0-0 draw with Maritzburg on November 5: Sandilands, Nyauza, Jele, Maela, Makaringe, Mabaso, Motshwari, Dlamini (Mulenga 57′), Pule, Mhango, Mabasa (Shonga 56′).