The Soweto Derby between arch rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Ellis Park on Saturday at 4pm could not only define the destiny of the Absa Premiership, but also turn into one of the highlights of the Premier Soccer League season.
Two players, Bucs’ hard-tackling midfielder Benson Mhlongo and Amakhosi central defender Dominic Isaacs, are determined to play starring roles for their respective clubs.
Mhlongo, who has played 20 times for Bafana Bafana, stated this week his reason for joining the Buccaneers from big spending Mamelodi Sundowns at the start of the season was to win silverware.
Said the 28-year-old Mhlongo: ”I have won a number of trophies in my three seasons at Sundowns. The reason I came to Pirates is because I believe this club has ambition and is on the verge of picking up a major trophy.
”This is our last chance to win some silverware and we cannot go backwards.”
Mhlongo, who will anchor the midfield, is a huge stumbling block for Chiefs’ attack which is likely to include the livewire Kaizer Motaung junior and Abia Nale.
Mhlongo was to the point when he said the game might not be pretty. ”Pretty football will fly out of the window. It could get ugly as both teams badly need to win to keep their respective seasons alive. To me it is simple — three points or nothing.”
Beating Chiefs would place Bucs on 51 points — three behind leaders and defending champions SuperSport United. Amakhosi are third behind the Buccaneers with 47 points.
Said Mhlongo: ”Beating Chiefs would add pressure on SuperSport and with everyone having two games to play after the Derby, who knows, the pressure might just get to SuperSport.”
Defeat would be a blow to Bucs’ ambitions of playing in the African Champions League. The Premiership champions and runners up qualify for the continental competition that Bucs won in 1995. They are still the only Southern African club to have lifted the most prestigious club competition in Africa.
Mhlongo said he did not feel the pressure associated with the Derby and will do his talking on the pitch.
Isaacs has been plagued for most of the season with a quad muscle he injured four times this season in trying to get fit. He joined Chiefs at the start of the season from Ajax Cape Town and will play in his first derby after making a full recovery and comeback to action at the start of April.
Isaacs, a graduate of the School of Excellence, said the closest he was to the Soweto Derby was way back in 1997 as an under-16 budding School of Excellence star when he played in the curtain raiser to the big event at Ellis Park.
‘Stuck in my mind’
Said Isaacs: ”That day stuck in my mind and one day I hoped to play in a Derby. That day is close and I am to enjoy the experience.”
His captain, Tinashe Nengomasha, said Isaacs had helped stabilise the defence since his return and believed the quiet-spoken defender would play a big role in shutting out the two dangerous Bucs strikers, Siphelele Mthembu and Katlego Mashego.
Isaacs said Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral had a plan to ”deal with four or five” players. But he added: ”We do not plan a game around an individual, but Pirates are a side to be respected and we have planned thoroughly.”
Coaches Ertugral and Bucs’ Ruud Krol, both agreed a draw would favour SuperSport and that for both teams it was win or bust.
With Isaacs and former Belgium-based defender, Jeffery Ntuka back from injury, Chiefs are more solid in defence. Bucs have improved throughout the season but this is their big test. If they hope to emulate the class of 95 in Africa it will begin on Saturday.
The key to opening up Chiefs’ defence will lie with the magical midfield skills of Teko Modise who can turn this Derby on its head if he gets enough room to manoeuvre.
Both Nale and the courageous Motaung junior are the leading lights for Amakhosi’s hopes of reversing the 2-0 defeat Bucs inflicted on their rivals in the first round, and keep their door to Africa open. — Sapa