The two biggest clubs in South African football in Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are set to lock horns this weekend at the FNB Stadium.
KAIZER CHIEFS STEP UP SOWETO DERBY PREPARATIONS
The two Soweto giants will take part in the latest instalment of the Soweto Derby with Pirates and Chiefs arriving in contrasting form.
Pirates on good form
Pirates, who are the designated ‘home’ side despite being on enemy territory, come into this game having won two of their last three games in all competitions. Chiefs on the other side have drawn two and suffered one defeat, a telling one at that, against Chippa United.
During those three games, Pirates have scored six goals while only conceding one. On the other side, however, Chiefs have managed to score three goals, while also shipping in three. Perhaps the game that will hurt the most for the Amakhosi camp though, would be their 0-0 MTN8 semi-final second leg tie against AmaZulu.
Chiefs faltering
Chiefs went into that fixture at Moses Mabhida Stadium, knowing that they had to score in order to increase their chances of returning to the same venue for the final on November the 5th. Arthur Zwane’s charges failed to do just that, and in fact, could not even master a single shot on target all game.
One of the few players that Zwane has been able to rely on to find the back of the net for Chiefs has been Burundian striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana. In fact such has been the reliance on Bimenyimana since his signing, the lanky striker was rushed back to action seemingly early for the crucial tie against AmaZulu. It was then no surprise to see him look a shadow of himself and subsequently leave the field injured once more.
That gamble seems to have backfired on Zwane because, if the latest hints are anything to by, Bimenyimana will seemingly miss out on the opportunity to take part in his first Soweto Derby. Chiefs stepped up their preparations for the game on Wednesday, with a few training pictures being posted on their official Twitter account. In those pictures, their top goal scorer was nowhere to be seen.
That alone, may not be enough proof that Bimenyimana will indeed miss the fixture against Pirates, however, but with most of the prominent Chiefs players being visible, the signs are not looking promising for the Amakhosi faithful as it stands.
