Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs in the latest installment of the Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, seeking to extend their good run over their bitter rivals.
Pirates have bossed this fixture in the last two years, winning three straight matches, and heading into Saturday’s tie, they have been labeled firm favourites to win.
A lot has happened since Pirates last lost the derby, having been beaten 1-0 by Chiefs on February 5, 2023 before Jose Riveiro’s team secured 2-1, 1-0 and 3-2 victories since then.
So, what are some of the things that happened since Chiefs last beat Pirates?
Mama Joy was still eating & sleeping
Superfan Mama Joy Chauke recently said she cannot eat or sleep following the financial woes facing Royal AM and its owner Shauwn Mkhize aka MaMkhize.
Mama Joy ended her 30-year-association with Pirates in 2021, at a time Chiefs were dominating the derby, opting to start supporting Royal AM, and she had been watching from a distance as Riveiro’ men got the better of Chiefs.
The superfan had been eating and sleeping soundly since Chiefs beat Pirates but can now hardly do those precious things as Amakhosi still search for a win.
Rele & Nkota were still watching Cocomelon
The last time Chiefs beat Pirates, neither of the two sets of fans knew much of some kids named Relebohile Mofokeng or Mohau Nkota as they were still trying to impress in the DStv Diski Challenge.
However, heading into this weekend’s match, Rele and Nkota are among the main men for Pirates and are set to torment the Chiefs defence at FNB Stadium.
Benni had turned Rashford into ‘Prime Messi’
By February 2023, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford could not stop scoring and ended the season with a career-high 30 goals, all down to Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy, who was working as the club’s attacking coach.
As we head into the derby, Rashford is close to leaving United, not played in nearly two months, while Benni is being linked with the Kenya national team job.
Nabi was coaching a proper team
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi was leading Tanzanian giants Yanga to a second straight league title by February 2023 and also took the side to that season’s CAF Confederation Cup final.
Nabi and his Chiefs assistant Cedic Kaze will have their first taste of the Soweto derby on Saturday but must be wondering if they will ever wake the sleeping South African giant.
MaMkhize had not been ‘greeted’ by SARS
As Mama Joy loses sleep, so is her benefactor, with Royal AM boss Shauwn Mkhize having been slapped with a R40 million tax bill and her house and cars raided by the SARS.
When Chiefs last won the derby, MaMkhize was still swimming in money, had enlisted Pitso Mosimane as a consultant, but heading into Saturday’s match, she cannot pay her players and her club is suspended from the league.
