The stage is now set for the first Soweto derby of the season. Both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will go into the match brimming with confidence. Both Bucs and Amakhosi registered emphatic 3–0 wins in the first round of the Carling Knockout last night, booking themselves a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Pirates, who are the defending Champions of both the Betway Premiership and the Carling Knockout, brushed aside the newcomers Milford FC.
The KwaZulu-Natal team gave the Pirates a tough time in their opening Betway Premiership match on 1 August. However, last night, in front of a packed Orlando Amstel Arena, the Pirates showed their class.
The match was over as a contest after three first half goals, but Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was far happy with his side’s performance. Pirates will have to up the tempo against their bitter rivals after the last match between them in April ended in a 1-all draw.
“The positive point I think it’s the win. I think I will only retain this victory because I was not happy with how we played. We didn’t have the control, we had a lot of precipitation, we were selfish, a lot of players were selfish. Instead of giving the ball to the teammate to score and they are not in a bad position, a lot of bad decision making the positive point is these three goals and a clean sheet but to be honest if we want to dream bigger, when I say dream bigger is to win the Betway is to win the Champions League. I think if we continue that way we are going to win nothing and we have to be honest.” says Ouaddou.
Following a string of poor results, Chiefs seemed to have found their rhythm ahead of the Soweto derby. Amakhosi scored three unanswered goals in the second half against a hapless T.S Galaxy.
Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz said his side was unlucky in some of their most recent matches and expressed his hope that last night’s win would turn their fortunes around.
“We made a good game, but sometimes we make a better and we didn’t win. We hope that now it’s the start for us to keep the confidence and continue this way. We were confident in our game but not being efficient, but now we hope that we will get ready from tonight we are going to recover and we will prepare for Saturday’s game,”
