Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs is not just the biggest game of the season for the clubs’ players and fans, it gets everyone from giant corporations to street hawkers excited.
Saturday’s game at Soccer City is crucial to both teams, firstly because of the points at stake a Pirates win will see them on top of the league table, while a Chiefs win will enable them to keep their championship hopes alive to retain the league title.
Off the field there is an equally important issue — the sponsors must get their money’s worth. All the fans come dressed in the colours of the teams — whether Fong Kong (counterfeit) or original — complete with sponsors’ logos.
Business booms at the stadium as vendors sell their Pirates and Chiefs merchandise, ranging from flags to caps, squeeze bottles to ribbons. All these goods have the branding of the sponsors: names such as Vodacom, Nike and Adidas adorn all goods. At the end of the game there is always one winner: the brands behind the teams.
Also looking to score from the match are the women or men who sell food around the stadium. They make a killing as fans flock in from the early hours of the morning.
The rivalry between the two teams dates back to 1969 and has managed to capture the imagination of many people for more than 30 years now. Interest in Saturday’s game extends far beyond the borders of South Africa and people from all over the continent will be viewing the match on SABC or checking the result in Sunday’s press.
Both clubs go into the game with comfortable victories under their belts in their previous matches: Pirates trounced Dynamos 3-0, while Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 2-1.
Under the tutelage of Kosta Papic, Pirates have stabilised and improved. They are now a side high on style — but sometimes low on substance. Saturday’s game is the first of a trio of tough matches for the Buccaneers: next week they face Sundowns in the Coca-Cola Cup and they take on the same side again in a league fixture.
But Pirates need not look further than Steve Lekoelea, who has been performing wonders this season, aided by Gift Leremi and Benedict Vilakazi in the midfield. Up front, Tyren Arendse has been doing most of the damage, having scored five goals in eight games so far.
Chiefs, on the other hand, are hungry for success after losing three of the crowns they won last season. Retaining their league title is becoming an imperative if they don’t want the trophy cupboard to be bare.
The Glamour Boys have the skill factor on their side for the derby, with Scara Ngobese, David Mathebula, Simphiwe Mbambo and John Moshoeu all capable of manipulating the game to Chiefs’ advantage. They have chosen to use Collins Mbesuma as a lone striker for most of the season, and his strikes have had to compensate for a porous rearguard.
Chiefs and Pirates must use the derby to reinforce their long-term dominance in the local game. In an era where money comes from mining magnates and car companies, and quality and crowd support is growing in the Mvela Golden League, one can never tell where the next giant will come from. There is no room for complacency.