This coming weekend, football fans across the continent will be treated to another installment of the Soweto Derby when Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs meet in the second semifinal of the Carling Cup.
Four teams compete for the grand prize in an all-day football festival held at the historic FNB Stadium.
The two passionate rivals will be competing for a berth in the final, and the winner will face the victorious side from the earlier semifinal between AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Form Guide
The match will place just seven days after Pirates lifted the MTN 8 trophy after defeating AmaZulu 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The victory was their third in their past five games across all competitions, in which they had previously lost once and drawn once.
Prior to the forthcoming FIFA break, they will maintain a high level of energy as they try to continue their winning streak into the tournament.
In order to advance to the championship game, the Buccaneers must defeat the only team that has defeated them in recent weeks.
Chiefs have not played since their recent triumph in the Soweto Derby, and their two-week gap between matches should work in their favor on what is expected to be a difficult day of sport.
They enter the competition having undergone a period of inconsistency, having won twice, drawn twice, and lost once over their previous five matches.
Team Updates
The starting lineup for each camp has been chosen by fan vote, and based on the final tally, Paseka Mako and Fortune Makaringe will return to the Pirates XI.
In addition, Club captain Innocent Maela is expected to return from injury after missing the MTN 8 final due to an injury.
Njabulo and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo have returned to the starting XI alongside Kgaogelo Sekgota and veteran defender Erick Mathoho.
Key figures
Miguel Timm (Orlando Pirates): Fresh off a Man of the Match performance in the final, Timm continues to be an important component in the Bucs engine room, as he not only adds an extra defensive layer but is also crucial in transitional play with sharp deliveries. The 30-year-old will have everything to prove after missing the previous Soweto Derby due to suspension.
Kgaogelo Sekgota (Kaizer Chiefs): The winger’s blistering speed adds a new dimension to his team’s attack, and he will be eager to start in the Derby. Sekgota can be used on either wing and is equally adept in the centre, where he has made several substitute appearances.
Head-to-Head
Pirates will seek to avenge their recent league loss at the hands of their opponents, and their performance in the previous iteration of the competition should provide them with confidence.
Since the competition began in 2011 with a winner-takes-all match between the two teams, the Buccaneers have won five of the nine played derbies and lost four. In addition, they are the last side to win a game without a penalty shootout, a feat they accomplished when they won 2-0 at the beginning of the 2019/20 season.
The match also gives an opportunity for Jose Riveiro’s squad to turn things around in the Soweto Derby, having not defeated Chiefs since January 2021.
How to Stream the Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs Match
The second semifinal will begin at 12:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Additionally, live updates will be available on the social media sites of the Orlando Pirates.
Tickets for the competition are available via Ticketmaster; one ticket grants access for the entire day.