Zwane: Derby triumph so important to Chiefs

Arthur Zwane head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs held at at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 29 October 2022. © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Oct 30, 2022. 13:00

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has called for calm after beating arch-rivals Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the Soweto derby on Saturday.

Amakhosi halted a three-match winless run in the DStv Premiership to move up to third in the standings, courtesy of Yusuf Maart’s wonder goal in the 74th minute at the FNB Stadium.

After Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo had been dispossessed, Maart received the ball well inside his own half and proceeded to catch out Siyabonga Mpontshane with an audacious lob, having spotted the Pirates goalkeeper off his line.

However, Zwane doesn’t want his players or the club’s supporters to get carried away, insisting the league still has a long way to go, with the season now set to go on a two-month break due to the 2022 World Cup.

“We still have a long way to go – this was our 13th game of the season and we still have 17 games to play with lots to play for,” he said after the derby success.

“Right now we will take one game at a time and beating Orlando Pirates doesn’t mean we have won the league. We still have a lot of tough games ahead of us but it was important for us to win here.

“This is one game that when it takes place everything comes to a standstill in the country. That is why it was crucial to come here, away from home, and get maximum points.

“Luckily for us we managed to get those three points and we also performed very well. It is never easy to play against Orlando Pirates with the quality players and technical team they have.

“They are not in the MTN8 final by mistake, they are there because they have been playing very well and working very hard. Unfortunately today it wasn’t to be for them and we managed to get maximum points.”