There will be more than pride on the line for Orlando Pirates when they take on Kaizer Chiefs on February 1 at FNB Stadium in the first 2024/25 Soweto Derby.
The Buccaneers are in a title race with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who they trail by six points with a game in hand and will face a week later. Amakhosi, though a long way off the pace in fifth, would love to spoil the party of their Soweto neighbours.
Both of South Africa's most popular football clubs have played second fiddle to Mamelodi Sundowns in recent years. Backed by the Motsepe family's heavy investment, Sundowns have won the last seven titles, edging Pirates and Chiefs some years and leaving them in their dust in more recent title races.
However, since Spaniard José Riveiro took over in 2022, Pirates have closed the gap to Sundowns. This season, an exciting squad featuring sought-after young talents Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick 'Tito' Maswanganyi has launched the Buccaneers into a title race and also seen them beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly to top spot in Group C of the CAF Champions League.
Chiefs continue to flounder - even under new head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who the club unveiled in July off the back of a worst-ever 10th place finish in 2023-24. Nabi has led the Glamour Boys through an uptick in performances since then, but injuries and inconsistency have prevented a proper title tilt.
Key details:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3:30 PM CAT (1:30 PM GMT, 8:30 AM ET)
Venue: FNB Stadium
Referee: TBC
How to watch:
The match is available on SuperSport.
READ: The history of the Premier Soccer League, from apartheid to today
Team news:
Kaizer Chiefs have been battling an injury crisis in recent weeks, but they were handed a boost on Sunday as star Uruguayan winger Gastón Sirino came off the bench in the 4-0 win over Free Agents in the Nedbank Cup.
Chiefs signed Sirino from Sundowns in August. His move was met by significant fanfare, but he had been out for a month and a half before his Free Agents cameo after breaking his rib against Polokwane City in early December.
Venezuelan midfielder Edson Castillo has been out with a broken fibula since October. Meanwhile, forward Ashley du Preez has also been out of action after being forced off early against former club Stellenbosch earlier in January.
Pirates have been without midfielder Goodman Mosele, striker Zakhele Lepasa, right-back Thabiso Monyane and Nigeria international centre-back Olisa Ndah in recent weeks. All four remained out of action for their 3-1 Nedbank Cup win over Richards Bay.
Expected lineups:
Orlando Pirates
GK Sipho Chaine
LB Deon Hotto | CB Nkosinathi Sibisi | CB Thabiso Sesane | RB Deano van Rooyen
CM Thalente Mbatha | CM Makhehlene Makhaula
LW Relebohile Mofokeng | AM Patrick Maswanganyi | RW Mohau Nkota
Kaizer Chiefs
GK Bruce Bvuma
LB Bradley Cross | CB Rushwin Dortley | CB Inácio Miguel | RB Njabulo Blom
CM Sibongiseni Mthethwa | CM Samkelo Zwane
LW Gastón Sirino | AM Mfundo Vilakazi | RW Pule Mmodi
ST Wandile Duba
Key Stats:
Orlando Pirates have won the last three Soweto derbies in all competitions.
Three of the last four Soweto derbies in the league have been decided by a 1-0 scoreline.
Former Chiefs forward Mabhuti Khenyeza scored the fastest goal in Soweto derby history, finding the net just 19 seconds into a 2-2 draw in Durban in 2007.
Orlando Pirates have won five of their last six games in all competitions (5-0-1), while Kaizer Chiefs have won four of theirs (4-0-2).