Neither has set the league alight so far but both have threatened to with various degrees of success, and now Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates face off against each other both seeking a second cup final in 2015-16.
The arch-rivals, who clash in part two of their Soweto derby at FNB Stadium this afternoon in the Telkom Knockout semifinals, are seeking their first trophy this season.
Last season’s league and cup double winners Chiefs spurned a chance to get new coach Steve Komphela off to a perfect start when, with a flat performance, they succumbed 1-0 to Ajax Cape Town in Port Elizabeth in the MTN8 final.
Pirates’ stirring run to the Caf Confederation Cup final, where they meet Tunisian club CS Sfaxien home then away on November 21 and 29, has added a fatigue dimension to their domestic form, putting pressure on coach Eric Tinkler.
The Buccaneers finally showed signs of some form of consistency in the PSL this past week, following up last weekend’s 3-1 dismantling of Chiefs in Soweto derby Part One with Wednesday night’s 2-1 away win against Ajax Cape Town.
These were Bucs’s first back-to-back league victories of the season, and took Pirates to 10th place, with three wins overall from nine matches.
Tinkler was pleased Pirates seemed to be inching their way towards domestic form, even if Bucs showed against Ajax they still had issues with their long-term Achilles heel – clinical finishing.
“We create so many chances, particularly on the counter-attack, and that last pass or finish lets us down. But that’s something, a mindset, you’ve got to change in the players – that they’ve got to be more positive, and hopefully that will change.”
Chiefs are in fifth place in the PSL due to a high number of draws — five from 10 matches.
Amakhosi’s defeat against Pirates was their first of their PSL campaign.
They bounced back with a clinical 3-1 victory against Golden Arrows at FNB on Tuesday night.
Captain Siphiwe Tshabalala admitted this week the change of coaching staff, Komphela having replaced Stuart Baxter in the off-season and loss of key players Mandla Masango and especially centre back Tefu Mashamaite, had resulted in a period of adjustment.
“It’s a long journey and there will be obstacles. There was a setback on Saturday. We want to do well and put smiles on our supporters’s faces. It’s not nice losing against Pirates, especially in that manner,” the Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
Derby humdinger looms
The arch-rivals, who clash in part two of their Soweto derby at FNB Stadium this afternoon in the Telkom Knockout semifinals, are seeking their first trophy this season.
Last season’s league and cup double winners Chiefs spurned a chance to get new coach Steve Komphela off to a perfect start when, with a flat performance, they succumbed 1-0 to Ajax Cape Town in Port Elizabeth in the MTN8 final.
Pirates’ stirring run to the Caf Confederation Cup final, where they meet Tunisian club CS Sfaxien home then away on November 21 and 29, has added a fatigue dimension to their domestic form, putting pressure on coach Eric Tinkler.
The Buccaneers finally showed signs of some form of consistency in the PSL this past week, following up last weekend’s 3-1 dismantling of Chiefs in Soweto derby Part One with Wednesday night’s 2-1 away win against Ajax Cape Town.
These were Bucs’s first back-to-back league victories of the season, and took Pirates to 10th place, with three wins overall from nine matches.
Tinkler was pleased Pirates seemed to be inching their way towards domestic form, even if Bucs showed against Ajax they still had issues with their long-term Achilles heel – clinical finishing.
“We create so many chances, particularly on the counter-attack, and that last pass or finish lets us down. But that’s something, a mindset, you’ve got to change in the players – that they’ve got to be more positive, and hopefully that will change.”
Chiefs are in fifth place in the PSL due to a high number of draws — five from 10 matches.
Amakhosi’s defeat against Pirates was their first of their PSL campaign.
They bounced back with a clinical 3-1 victory against Golden Arrows at FNB on Tuesday night.
Captain Siphiwe Tshabalala admitted this week the change of coaching staff, Komphela having replaced Stuart Baxter in the off-season and loss of key players Mandla Masango and especially centre back Tefu Mashamaite, had resulted in a period of adjustment.
“It’s a long journey and there will be obstacles. There was a setback on Saturday. We want to do well and put smiles on our supporters’s faces. It’s not nice losing against Pirates, especially in that manner,” the Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos