How They Lineup for the Derby: Unbeaten Pirates Eye Top Spot as Chiefs, Fresh From a Duba Hat-Trick, Chase a Statement Win
Orlando Pirates can go top of the Betway Premiership this afternoon, and standing in their way are a Kaizer Chiefs side desperate to prove their fight is back.
The Soweto Derby kicks off at FNB Stadium at 3.30pm, and both coaches have named their teams.
The defending champions sit second on 22 points from eight games, one behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more. A win sends them to the summit.
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side are on a 21-match unbeaten league run, having last lost in February to Sundowns. They have conceded just one goal all season, a penalty against AmaZulu, and their 19 goals are second only to Sundowns. They have also won five of the last six league meetings with Chiefs.
Fernando Da Cruz’s side have not lost a league game this season, but five draws in their last six matches have left them fifth on 14 points, nine behind the leaders. They have scored 13, conceded eight and kept only two clean sheets.
It has been a rough week. Red Arrows knocked them out of the Confederation Cup, but Wandile Duba’s hat-trick in a 3-0 Carling Cup win over TS Galaxy offered some redemption. Chiefs will also draw on their May 2025 Nedbank Cup final win over Pirates.
Chiefs XI: Petersen, Frosler, Miguel, Moloisane, Mako, Maboe, Mthethwa, Vilakazi, Shabalala, Mmodi, Duba.
Subs: Bvuma, Kwinika, Dortley, Nkgwesa, Mabaso, Da Silva, Chislett, Velebayi, Abrahams.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndaba, Seema, Sibisi, Hotto, Selepe, Mbatha, Mokobodi, Moremi, Masilela, Mbuthuma.
Subs: Dladla, Kgositsile, Padime, Zulu, Mthiyane, Lungu, Nkota, Makgopa, Appollis.
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