While history dictates the hype around the Soweto derby, recent encounters have failed to live up to expectations. It has become a snore fest, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
This weekend will see the 163rd edition of the Soweto Derby take place as Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
This clash between the two giants of South African football will draw the attention of fans across the country, but is it worth all the hype?
On the face of things, it is a massive fixture with Micho Sredojevic’s men sitting in second place just four points off league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Steve Komphela’s side sit just one point behind their rivals in third place. A victory for either side could prove crucial if they are going to edge Sundowns to the title.
This leads me to the problem that I have with this fixture: both teams seem so scared to lose that they aren’t willing to take the necessary risks needed to claim the victory.
The stats back this up as well: in the last 39 matches between the two sides, 22 have ended in a draw. Out of those draws, there have been six matches that have ended 0-0 since 2010.
There hasn’t been a winner in the derby for nearly three years. You have to go as far back as September 2015, where Pirates beat Chiefs 3-1, to find a league match between the two sides that did not end in a draw.
The last time Chiefs managed to come out on top in a league fixture against their rivals was in 2014. That is a run of eight games without an outright victory, and is the longest run of games without a win in 90 minutes since the Soweto Derby began.
This is staggering when you consider the financial power behind the two clubs, as well as the expectations and size of their respective fan bases.
Surely the time has come for the managers to go all out for a victory. A win against their closest rivals, and the chance to close the gap and potentially catch the league leaders should be enough temptation to force the managers’ hands.
A draw does nothing for the title hopes of the sides, so let’s hope that we are finally in for an entertaining clash, although personally, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
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