Soweto giants ready to rumble
The natural energy that players have when they play in the Soweto derby is what gives Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson confidence that they may get something in their match against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium tomorrow.
The Soweto archrivals meet after getting contrasting results in their midweek DStv Premiership matches where Chiefs lifted some of the pressure when they beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0.
The the much-favoured Pirates got a shock result in Orlando where they were held to a 1-1 draw by PSL rookies Cape Town City.
It is those midweek results that saw Johnson coming to yesterday’s derby media conference more relieved and confident than his Pirates counterpart, Jose Riveiro, who was still disappointed that his team dropped a chance to move to second on the log with their draw with Spurs.
Chiefs had started this year worse than Pirates, failing to score in their first three matches in all competitions, before young striker Wandile Duba, 19, scored a beauty to give Amakhosi a 1-0 victory over Arrows on Tuesday.
Going to tomorrow’s match there is not much separating these sides as Pirates are sitting fifth (with 30 points after 19 matches) and Chiefs sixth (with 29 points after 19 matches) on the log, and are far from assured of even securing a spot in one of the Caf club Cup competitions next season.
Two South African sides finishing top and second in the Premiership earn a spot in the Caf Champions League while a team finishing third gets to play in the Caf Confederation Cup alongside winners of the Nedbank Cup.
Both Pirates and Chiefs have been blowing hot and cold in the league, giving clubs like Stellenbosch FC, Cape Town City and SuperSport United more belief that they can still fill the two spots below Mamelodi Sundowns who are galloping to an 11th league title in a row.
Johnson sounded confident yesterday of Chiefs attaining at least one of the Caf spots, saying the result in tomorrow’s derby would be key.
Chiefs are already out of the Nedbank Cup after being beaten by first division team Milford FC two weeks ago.
“Yes, that’s one [competing in Caf competitions] of our objectives,” Johnson said.
“It’s been the club’s objective for a long time now and if we’re able to do [win] this one on Saturday it will just give us a lot more to play for.
“We want to end as high as we can in the league and there’s about 10 or 11 games left.
“That’s one of the games to play but if we get a positive result on Saturday, which we’re hoping for, then it will put us in good standing going to the next 10 games left in the PSL.”
Pirates coach Riveiro is targeting a league double over Chiefs.
He feels this will give them a boost ahead of their remaining matches as they look to finish second in the DStv Premiership log standings and qualify for the Caf Champions League.
The Buccaneers edged Amakhosi 1-0 in the reverse fixture, and a double is on Riveiro’s mind.
“I think it helps not only us the players and staff, it’s also for the fans,” he said.
“For the people in the club, when you play these games and you get a result you can be more positive to face all the challenges from now until the end of the season.
“So, it is an opportunity to get that boost and, hopefully, it works the same way it did the last time. ”—