The biggest of them all
2005-04-28 21:32
Johannesburg - There is no bigger match in sub-Saharan Africa than the Soweto
derby.
When Kaizer Chiefs take the field at the FNB Stadium against archrivals
Orlando Pirates on Saturday at 15:15 the players know that there will be more at stake than the three points and the Premiership title.
Pride and passion will flow, not just from the 22 players but from the capacity 80 000 crowd
who will cheer their idols' every move.
The added bonus is that this year the league title could go to the winners. Bucs lead
the table with 52 points, followed by Amakhosi on 49, but Chiefs have a match in hand.
A draw is no good for the Buccaneers. Chiefs know this and are the form team. Bucs come
off the back of two bad defeats in the Absa Cup and league against relegation threatened
Dynamos and Santos respectively.
Both teams are evenly matched. One mistake or moment of magic will win the game.
The team that handles the pressure from the fans and the big occasion will be halfway to
winning.
Bucs stars like Benedict Vilakazi, Steve Lekoelea, Jospeh Makhanya, Edelbert Dinha and
defensive strongmen Tonic Chabalala and Lucky Lekgwathi will have their hands full.
Chabalala is likely to mark dangerman Collins Mbesuma after he did a splendid job on the
free scoring Zambian striker in the first round which Bucs won 2-1.
Chiefs have bags of talent in Arthur Zwane, Tinashe Nengomasha and John "Shoes" Moshoeu to control the midfield.
It will be close and tense with not more than a goal separating the sides at the end of the 90
minutes.
In other league action on Saturday, Jomo Cosmos can move further away from relegation if
they beat SuperSport United at the Rand Stadium and at Absa Stadium in East London, Bush
Bucks and Santos will be locked in a relegation battle.
Santos lost 1-0 to SuperSport on Wednesday night at Loftus and play their penultimate league
fixture.
- Daily Sun