Soweto Derby Spotlight: Insights and Stats from the Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs Rivalry

Both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have had commendable seasons, heading into this clash on a positive note; however, The Buccaneers have held a distinct advantage over their long-standing rivals in recent encounters.

Here are some essential statistics surrounding the most anticipated sporting event in South Africa.

1 – Percy ‘Chippa’ Moloi was the first player to score in a Soweto Derby, leading Pirates to a thrilling 6-4 victory on January 24, 1970, during the Rogue Beer Cup third-place playoff.

3 – In their previous league Derby meeting in late February, Pirates claimed a decisive 3-0 victory, marking their most substantial win over Chiefs since 2020. The goals came from Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa.

3 – Jerry Sikhosana holds the record for the most recent hat-trick in a Derby, scoring three times during Pirates’ 4-1 victory in 1996. In total, there have only been three hat-tricks in the history of this fixture: those by Mugoyo (Chiefs), Henry Khumalo (Pirates), and Sikhosana.

3 – Evidence Makgopa has found the back of the net in the last three encounters between the two teams. In total, he has netted four goals in Derbies, proving to be a persistent threat to Chiefs. Alfred ‘Russia’ Jacobs (Pirates) and Fani Madida (Chiefs) previously managed to score in four consecutive Derbies, with Jacobs achieving this between 1970-71 and Madida between 1991-92.

4 – The largest margin of victory in a Derby is four goals, a record that has been accomplished twice by Chiefs (7-3 in 1972 and 5-1 in 1975) and once by Pirates (5-1 in 1990).

6 – Pirates have emerged victorious in six of the last seven Derby fixtures, a streak that included a club record five consecutive wins before being interrupted by Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup final triumph last May. The Buccaneers have shown remarkable control over Chiefs during this period.

6 – There have been six coaches who have led both teams during the Derbies, with Vladimir Vermezovic being the most recent. Others include Kosta Papic, Walter da Silva, Ted Dumitru, Augusto Palacios, and Joe Frickleton.

8 – In 1975, a record eight Derby matches were contested across different competitions in a single season.

10 – The highest tally of goals in a single Derby match stands at ten, achieved on two occasions: the very first clash in which Pirates triumphed 6-4 and again in 1972 when Chiefs emerged victorious 7-3 in the Champions of Champions final after a 3-3 draw in the first leg.

11 – A total of 11 own goals have been scored throughout Derby history, with Pirates players contributing seven and Chiefs players four. The latest of these was from Pirates defender Olisa Ndah in February 2023.

11 – For the first time in 11 encounters, this Derby will take place on a Sunday. Previous matches have exclusively occurred on Saturdays. Nowadays, Derby games are seldom hosted midweek unless it’s a public holiday, due to safety concerns post the Ellis Park disaster in 2001. The last midweek match was on Heritage Day, Tuesday, September 24, 2013.

12 – Prior to Pirates’ decisive 3-0 victory earlier this season, the last 12 meetings had all been settled by a single-goal margin. Pirates’ 2-0 win in 2020 was the last time either side managed to win by more than a single goal, highlighting the tightly contested nature of these clashes.

17 – Since 2019, there have been no draws in the last 17 competitive encounters. Within this span, Pirates secured nine wins while Chiefs claimed eight. The last draw occurred in November 2019, ending at 2-2 during the Telkom Knockout.

19 – The quickest goal in Derby history was netted by Chiefs’ striker Mabhuti Khenyeza just 19 seconds into a 2-2 draw in Durban in 2007.

19 – The all-time leading scorer in Derby history is Chiefs icon Pule “Ace” Ntsoelengoe, with 19 goals, while Pirates’ top scorer is Jomo Sono with nine.

24 – Over the past 10 Derby matches, 24 goals have been scored, with Pirates contributing 14 and Chiefs 10.

31 – Siphiwe Tshabalala holds the record for the most appearances in Derby history, having first played in November 2007 and last featured in 2018.

79 – Soccer City (FNB Stadium) has been the venue for 79 Derbies, including the last eight. Orlando Stadium has hosted 63, including the inaugural match. The fixture has taken place at 15 different venues overall, such as Durban, Gqeberha, and Mdantsane.

184 – Since January 1970, a total of 184 competitive matches have taken place between the two clubs, with Chiefs winning 75 times, Pirates 50, and 54 matches ending in a draw, along with five abandoned encounters.

203 – Pirates have scored 203 goals against Chiefs, reaching the ‘200’ milestone when Evidence Makgopa scored in last season’s 2-1 Nedbank Cup final loss. Chiefs have netted 233 goals in this fixture.

94,000 – The Derby is typically played in front of a sold-out crowd at FNB Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 94,000, although for safety purposes, around 80,000 tickets are made available.