FEW games can make or break the future of players like the game between Soweto’s biggest rivals, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Since the Chiefs was founded in 1970, it is made up of players from the Pirates, the games between these teams with a lot of fans and cups, cannot be compared to the usual ones where only points or trophies are contested.
Because of this history, the pressure is always great on the players to perform spectacularly in this game. Those who can’t resist this pressure are still considered heroes even after they have been trapped and others who make big mistakes become enemies of the fans.
As these teams will face each other in the main game of the Betway Premiership on Saturday at 3.30 pm, at FNB Stadium, Nasrec, the players who will make new history are being watched.
Both teams have signed many players this season, which means that many will be hearing for the first time how hot it is to be on the field in this game. For them, there are those who have already started doing well in their teams, who will be carrying the hopes of the fans.
Flavio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs)
This player who is from Guinea-Bissau but grew up in Portugal, came to Makhosi at the beginning of the season from a team playing in the unpopular Indonesian league. In the 19 games he has played in different competitions, he has scored seven goals. This makes the fans rely on him to find the net as the team does not have many goal scorers.
Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates)
Appollis came to Zimnyama at the beginning of this season from Polokwane City, he has been linked with this team for years and the fans have not stopped crying for him to be signed. It didn’t take long for him to be part of the moves that lead to the team getting goals by feeding his teammates or scoring himself. He is one of the players expected to join the team on Saturday.
Thank you Maboe (Kaizer Chiefs)
This midfielder who has played for teams including Maritzburg United, Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United, came to Chiefs this season and showed that his talent for controlling games is still there. Like his father Sidwell, who once played for Orlando Pirates, Lebohang will experience for himself what it’s like to play in the game that is watched by the most fans in the country.
Yanela Mbuthuma (Orlando Pirates)
Apart from being a player who is expected to score goals that will help Magebhula get points that will bring them back to the top, Mbuthuma is one of the most important players in Pirates because of his intensity and speed. The coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, has commented many times on how useful he is in the team’s ability to quickly steal the ball from the opponents, but what would make him a fan favorite in his first season is that he will hit the net on Saturday.
Aiden McCarthy (Kaizer Chiefs)
This defender who is the son of the Chiefs, Aiden, has come to strengthen the back wall of this team since he was taken from the small team running in the DStv Diski Challenge. He must be getting some solid advice from his father who has experience playing in these big games. McCarthy is expected to cooperate with his teammates to stop the dangerous players of the Pirates.
Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates)
Moremi joined Pirates at the beginning of the season from MaZulu FC and it took a while for him to make his way into the hearts of the fans of this team. His speed and determination on the sides and scoring important goals, has made him one of the favorites of Magebula fans. Even if he starts the game or comes from the bench, it is always expected that he will come with moves.