The origin of the term derby, when referring to sports contests, is from the famed thoroughbred horse race held at Britain’s Epsom Downs racecourse, which was instituted by the Earl of Derby in 1780.
Now the term is used to refer to needle confrontations between neighbouring or closely associated teams that invariably attract huge interest at the highest level.
And while in recent years the derby clashes between Soweto’s “blood-brother” rivals, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, have not always been contested by what might be termed soccer thoroughbreds, the record football crowd of an anticipated 90Â 000-plus at FNB’s World Cup Stadium on Saturday night for the Telkom Knockout final is guaranteed to be kept spellbound.
Such is the emotional intensity of these occasions on and off the pitch that even if the standard of play tends to be mediocre there is a high level of drama that seems to supersede the shortcomings of what can be termed “choked up” performers.
Fortunately, there are indications that the Chiefs-Pirates games this season are moving towards reclaiming the pedigree status they once enjoyed.
No consistency
Amakhosi figuratively made the Buccaneers walk the plank in a 3-1 victory on the last occasion the sides did battle in a Premier League encounter, but Pirates have enjoyed success against their great rivals this season.
There is a degree of validity in the argument that neither club tends to bite the dust on successive occasions when pitted against each other.
Both Chiefs and Pirates have tended to blow hot and cold this season — as epitomised in Amakhosi’s lacklustre 3-2 defeat against Vasco da Gama last weekend — and the Soweto faithful have been frustrated as their favourite teams have remained a step or two behind Premier League leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Still, Pirates against Chiefs is Pirates against Chiefs. Buccaneers boss and PSL chair Irvin Khoza recalls how the battle lines were first drawn in 1971 when a group of prominent Pirates players, headed by the redoubtable Kaizer Motaung, now the current Chiefs’ supremo, broke away from the “mother club” and formed their own Kaizer Chiefs.
“Contrary to widespread belief,” says Khoza, “money was not the prime reason for the breakaway. Pirates suspended the so-called rebels because they went and played a friendly game outside the country without permission.
“Arguments raged over these suspensions and with the differences remaining unresolved, what was tantamount to a revolt within the Pirates dynasty exploded as though war had broken out in Soweto.
“Initially,” added Khoza, “there was a great deal of personal hostility among players, officials and supporters whenever the teams met and this resulted in some ugly incidents and tragedies over the years.
“Happily, however, while the great rivalry has remained intact, the games are now more in line with sporting contests — even if much pride and prestige are at stake.”
Who to bet on?
There is also another anomaly in these derbies. Unlike great derbies in other parts of the world where teams enjoy support in their own particular areas, in South Africa, wherever you might go, it is the Chiefs and Pirates supporters who are in the majority in the full sense of the word.
Pirates and Chiefs might not be able to boast the masterful football of Barcelona and Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan or Arsenal and Chelsea, but as a battle of contrasting loyalties, it rivals even the “religious” clash between Protestant Glasgow Rangers and Catholic Glasgow Celtic in Scotland. It is truly anyone’s guess who will win on Saturday night.
Chiefs have unearthed a potential match-winning goal-scorer this season in Zimbabwean Knowledge Musona. But now that Ezenwa Otorogu has found form, Pirates are countering with a Nigerian salvo.
Pirates have the talented trio of Andile Jali, Dikgang Mabalane and Daine Klaite back in their line-up after showing indifferent form while repeating their Telkom semi-final win over Maritzburg United in a Premier League game — and this should make a considerable difference.
Enjoy the unpredictable spectacle for what it is worth. And if you must place a bet, lean slightly towards Pirates because they might be better motivated to seek revenge for what happened in the teams’ last encounter.