Nabi: How Soweto Derby Compares To Other Derbies
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has shared his views on how the Soweto derby compares to the other derbies across the continent as they gear up to lock horns with their arch rivals, Orlando Pirates, at FNB Stadium on Saturday (15:00).
The two Soweto giants will do battle for crucial maximum points in a bid to register a respectable finish in their respective campaigns as they are both fresh from league defeats in their last Betway Premiership outings.
Chiefs fell short to Marumo Gallants at the Calabash last weekend, a result that halted their push for a top-eight finish. Meanwhile, Pirates suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United in Orlando on Wednesday, an outcome that dented their title hopes.
With what is arguably the biggest fixture in South African football on the horizon, Nabi, who got his first taste of the Soweto derby in February, says the clash between the two sides is more than a football match and an international spectacle that has to be protected.
“Despite [playing in] the other derbies, the Soweto derby is like a cultural thing, it’s more than football. The Soweto derby is a South African patrimony, an African patrimony, and an international patrimony,” said the Tunisian tactician.
“We need to protect this patrimony, promote this patrimony. It’s a patrimony like Cairo patrimony [between] Zamalek [and] Al Ahly, in Tunis, Esperance and Club Africain, Morocco, Wydad and Raja, Kariakoo derby in Dar es Salaam, Young Africans and Simba.
“I remember my first derby I think in 2004 [between] AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe, 18% inside [the Stadium], one minute [later] we are talking about all the city in Kinshasa – I lived these moments, it’s exceptional but I lost that game trust me.”
At the second league meeting with the Buccaneers, the 59-year-old former Young Africans and AS FAR boss believes Amakhosi ousting Pirates wouldn’t be a surprise, as they are still a big team capable of getting results despite enduring an indifferent season.
“If Kaizer Chiefs wins the derby on Saturday, it’s not going to be a surprise; if Orlando Pirates wins the derby as well, it’s not going to be a surprise. Those are the two biggest clubs in South Africa,” Nabi added.
“Despite our current log standing, we believe that two big clubs are going to play on Saturday, even if we are not in a very good position, but we feel that whoever wins on Saturday, it’s because they deserve it.”
Amakhosi narrowly lost the first encounter against Jose Riveiro’s troops, courtesy of a Patrick Maswanganyi last-minute Panenka penalty. Chiefs are in ninth place with 30 points accumulated from 25 Betway Premiership matches.
