8 February 2019, by: Thabang Kgeledi

5 INTERESTING STORY LINES THAT WILL UNFOLD AT THE SOWETO DERBY 

Who will start as Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper? Is Orlando Pirates’ attack going to continue shooting blanks? These and other questions will be answered on Saturday afternoon in Soweto Derby.

Kaizer Chiefs host Orlando Pirates for the Soweto Derby on Saturday afternoon at the FNB Stadium. My anticipation for the derby has died down a bit because the game hasn’t lived up to all the hype in the past few years. But, I’m excited about this one. Okay, maybe not overjoyed but I’m intrigued.

09.02.2019 – FNB Stadium – #TheBattleIsOn #SowetoDerby #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/oQZ2fjXWqG

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) February 6, 2019

Neither team is where they feel they need to be at this stage of the season. Kaizer Chiefs in sixth place in the league, ten points behind league leaders Bidvest Wits with only eleven games to play. Orlando Pirates are in the second position, with five points behind Wits, and only their twelve matches left to play.

In football, the numbers don’t tell you the full story. Both teams have endured a lot of ups and downs during the season. In this weekend’s Soweto derby they are plenty of plot lines that will unravel but, I only have time to tell you about five.

Here are five interesting storylines that will unfold at the Soweto Derby.

In December Kaizer Chiefs fired their coach Giovanni Solinas after five months. The top brass at Amakhosi felt he wasn’t cut out for the job. A week later they appointed Ernst Middendorp. Middendorp is back for his second stint at Amakhosi (he was their head coach from 2005 to 2007). The German started off well, winning three out of his first three games. Since then, the same old inconsistent Kaizer Chiefs surfaced, losing four and only winning three of their last seven games.

When will it be time for Middendorp to panic?

Should this type of form continue, it’s only a matter of time until the impatient Kaizer Chiefs supporters are at his neck. A loss in a Soweto derby will speed up that process. Two losses against Orlando Pirates sealed Giovanni Solinas’ fate.

Orlando Pirates were arguably the best team in second half of last season. They won 11 of their last 15 games. Unfortunately, they were too many points behind Sundowns to win the league.

Their 2017/2018 form automatically made them favourites for the 2018/2019 season. As we stand now, Orlando Pirates have been knocked out of all three cup competitions and are only competing for CAF Champions League and the league. Disappointing.

A loss against their arch-rivals will put another dent in their chances of winning the league. A win could revive the faith their supporters are beginning to lose.

The Buccaneers are undefeated against Amakhosi in their last eight matches across all competitions. Pirates refer to Kaizer Chiefs as ‘Kaizer Chips‘ as they eat them with their daily bread. If the ‘new’ Kaizer Chiefs wants to make an impression on their supporters it would be by nabbing all three points against their old foes.

.@KaizerChiefs have not beaten @orlandopirates since December 2014. Since then:

? Cape Town City was established & won 2 trophies
? Sundowns won 6 trophies
? Cassper filled The Dome and then FNB Stadium
? Muhsin moved clubs 5 times

Can you add more? #SowetoDerby pic.twitter.com/L6xFN8mNSi

— BET.co.za (@betcoza) February 6, 2019

This is a storyline which began with Twitter polls on the internet this week leading up to the game and ends with the announcement of the team sheet on Saturday afternoon. After an injury to Kaizer Chiefs number one Itumeleng Khune, Amakhosi have had a bit of a goalkeeping problem:

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Who is going to play in goal for Kaizer Chiefs? We’ll find out if the newly signed goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will make his debut at the derby or if Middendorp will put his faith in Virgil ‘Butter-Fingers’ Vries.

When Micho Sredojević’s Orlando Pirates met former Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela’s Amakhosi, the game was stale and boring, just the way Steve would have liked it. When the same Pirates team met Solinas’ Kaizer Chiefs they beat them soundly. What was the difference? Steve Komphela understood Orlando Pirates have better players than Chiefs and playing an open game against players who are more talented than you is a recipe for disaster.

Middendorp has adjusted his team’s formation on a game by game basis. He is a smart tactician who makes it difficult for his opponent to figure out. It will be fascinating to see how he goes about his business Saturday afternoon. As it stands the oddsmakers have Orlando Pirates favourites to win the game.