Pirates, Chiefs set for derby showdown

by Staff Reporter

Friday Mar 08, 2024. 11:00

A Soweto derby showdown between arch rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will be the feature match of a full round of action in South Africa’s DStv Premiership this weekend.

The Buccaneers and the Amakhosi will renew their rivalry on Saturday afternoon at the FNB Stadium, with the teams having recorded different results in midweek to gear up for this clash. While Pirates could only draw 1-1 at home to bottom-of-the-log Cape Town Spurs (and therefore missed the chance to go second on the log), Chiefs claimed a first win of 2024 in midweek when they defeated Golden Arrows 1-0, with youngster Wandile Duba scoring his first senior goal.

“They [Pirates] should be ready for me. I’m coming,” warned the 19-year-old.

Buccaneers coach Jose Riveiro, meanwhile, wants to see an improvement from his charges after just one win from their last five league matches.

“We need to try, we need to be more brave, we need to be more dynamic, much more active and not speculate with the result,” said the Spaniard.

Once the Soweto derby has played out, a Cape derby between Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town Spurs will take centre stage as one of three late afternoon kick-offs, with Moroka Swallows v Sekhukhune United and SuperSport United v AmaZulu also on deck.

Two night matches follow, with Richards Bay welcoming TS Galaxy to the King Zwelithini Stadium, at the same time that Mamelodi Sundowns look to move closer to clinching the title when they host Chippa United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

“I don’t listen too much to praise. I prefer criticism and hate. Being hated drives me; it makes me want to prove a point,” said Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena.

Sunday offers up two matches, starting out at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium, as Polokwane City and Golden Arrows battle for honours, followed by Royal AM hosting Cape Town City at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Both Royal and City will be looking to bounce back from 1-0 midweek defeats (at the hands of Sekhukhune and Stellenbosch respectively), with Citizens coach Eric Tinkler calling for more from his senior players.

“We have to sit and analyse it properly and try to fix it,” said the former Bafana Bafana hard-man. “Senior players, I call senior players because I am not referring to the older ones, I am calling the senior players who are not contributing enough.”

DStv Premiership fixtures, 9-10 March 2024

Times CAT

Saturday 9 March

15:30: Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs

17:30: Stellenbosch FC v Cape Town Spurs

17:30: Moroka Swallows v Sekhukhune United

17:30: SuperSport United v AmaZulu

20:00: Mamelodi Sundowns v Chippa United

20:00: Richards Bay v TS Galaxy

Sunday 10 March

15:30: Polokwane City v Golden Arrows

17:45: Royal AM v Cape Town City