Mbesuma hopes it rains goals
Derby a feast of drab draws lately
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Collins Mbesuma has urged the Soweto giants to make it rain goals in the derby on Saturday.
The much-hyped clash between the Soweto giants has been lacking goals in recent seasons with four goalless draws in the last 10 encounters. The last four matches have ended in draws while only 14 goals in total have been scored in the last 10.
Mbesuma, the former goalscoring machine, wants both sets of players to put on a show for the supporters at the FNB Stadium (3.30pm). “Right now I think it’s 50/50 because they play differently. Pirates like to play from the wing with speedy players while Chiefs play from the middle,” Mbesuma told Sowetan.
“I can’t tell who will win, it will be interesting. We have not seen many goals in the past few games, so I hope there will be lots [of] goals.”
As one of the few footballers to experience the derby from both sides, Mbesuma can write a memoir just about playing in the game alone.
The man from Luanshya in Zambia donned the Chiefs jersey from 2004 to 2005 and later played for the Bucs between 2012 and 2014.
“When I was at Chiefs they [Pirates] would plan around me. They would designate a defender to mark me the entire game.
“When I was a Pirates it was different, I would be free during the game,” added the former Highlands Park forward who is now looking for a club.
The 34-year-old says players would make miraculous recoveries when the time for the derby came. “I can remember that when it’s time for the derby I would not want to see the medical team in case they picked up a hidden injury.
“Every player would be injury-free in the week before the derby. Everyone is committed and trains hard.”
He has backed his compatriot Justin Shonga to continue to shine at Pirates. “I think he will get there, he has been doing well. It’s a new environment for him, but he has adapted. He just needs to work hard and he will benefit from that.”