Stats: Soweto Derby

Ahead of the Soweto derby, we look back at some key stats between the rivals in the competition that have shaped the fixture as we know it today. The first-ever derby between the sides took place 53 years ago and there have been 178 of these over the last five decades. Chiefs hold the upper hand when it comes to wins, with Pirates lagging behind, and before you take out the calculator to add the matches below, there were five of the games that were not completed.

74 – Kaizer Chiefs have won 74 derbies between the sides, with Pirates winning 45, while 54 have ended in a draw.

The rivalry between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates may have mollified over the last few years, given that Sundowns have been the dominant force on the local scene for the last decade. Nine of the last 10 titles, including each of the last six have eluded the Soweto giants. A look at the league table some 10 years ago would make one wonder how so much has changed in such a short space of time.

1 & 2 – March 2013 is the last time a Soweto derby was played with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates placed 1st and 2nd on the table.

In fact, both derbies that season (December & March) were played when the teams were 1st and 2nd. Fast forward 10 seasons, and things look altogether different. Chiefs come into this derby in 7th, while Orlando Pirates are in 10th. For another perspective on how things have changed, it’s worth considering where teams that are currently above Pirates were in March 2013.

Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City (as we know them today) were not yet formed. Polokwane City were in the 1st division, while Chippa were bottom of the table on their way to relegation in their first top-flight season. Moroka Swallows (10th) & Arrows (12th) sandwiched Sundowns (11th) on the table. How things change.

2005 – The only other occasion where Chiefs (2) and Pirates (1) topped the table coming into the derby was in April 2005.

For Chiefs, mid-table leading up to a derby has been more common over the last few years, with the last six derbies finding them in 5th, 5th, 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 8th. For Pirates, this is the lowest that they find themselves on the league table coming into a derby since March 2017, when they were 11th.

8.5 – This weekend, the average league position for the sides coming into the derby will be 8.5 (9 if Royal AM wins on Friday night).

Surprisingly, that is not the lowest average for the teams.

There were three previous occasions where the sides had a lower average position leading into a derby. There are many factors to consider when it comes to this table, as there can be occasions when the fixtures played by all teams in the league are not the same. For example, in October 2013 Pirates were 16th on the league table, as they had only played two games due to involvement in the CAF competition. As such, this is more of a guide than a scientific study.

For both teams, the reality is that the hopes of another title challenge, however fanciful, are vanishing with every game and every dropped point. Two things need to happen in order for a title race to materialise – either of them gets some sort of rhythm going AND Sundowns suffer a horrible run of form.

Otherwise, they both risk watching Sundowns disappear into the horizon for good, for yet another year.