Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala acknowledged the impressive form of Orlando Pirates’ Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng ahead of the Soweto Derby, emphasizing the importance of learning from their success rather than being envious.

Shabalala, who admitted to nearly joining Pirates in the past, will face Nkota and Mofokeng in the 181st Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 PM.

Nkota and Mofokeng have formed a formidable partnership with Patrick Maswanganyi and either Evidence Makgopa or Tshegofatso Mabasa in attack, posing a significant threat to opposing defenses.

Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, and Mabasa were particularly influential in Pirates’ recent Nedbank Cup round of 32 victory against Richards Bay in Durban.

Prior to that match, Mofokeng and Mabasa scored in Pirates’ 2-1 CAF Champions League win against Al Ahly in Cairo, securing their top spot in Group C and progression to the quarterfinals.

Mofokeng appears to be continuing his strong form from last season, having scored the winning goal in the Nedbank Cup final and also finding the net in Pirates’ MTN8 final win against Stellenbosch in October.

Nkota scored twice in Pirates’ Champions League group stage opener against CR Belouizdad, with Mofokeng providing the assists for both goals.

While Shabalala and Wandile Duba have been key players for Chiefs, their team sometimes lacks attacking threat when both players are closely marked, unlike Pirates’ multifaceted attack.

“I think the youngsters playing well for Pirates are performing better than us, we need to be honest,” said Shabalala, who is Chiefs’ joint-top league scorer with Duba on four goals. “Not just in South Africa, but on the continent as well. You can see how they play; they have gained a lot of experience at such a young age. You can see they are growing in every game. I think it’s for us to learn from them and not be jealous. Our time will come. We just have to keep our heads up and continue working. I think by working with the technical team, we will reach our potential and our best.”

The success of these players, particularly Mofokeng and Nkota, has contributed to Pirates’ strong league form, currently sitting second in the league with 27 points from 11 matches, six points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one game more.

This has led many to consider Pirates favorites for the derby. Furthermore, Pirates have won the last three Soweto Derbies.

Given the emotional investment in this fixture, defeat can be particularly painful, and Shabalala is determined to avoid that outcome.

“Playing against Pirates, if you don’t take your chances, they will score,” said Shabalala. “They are a team that scores as many goals as they can. If you don’t take chances, you risk losing the game, and we don’t want to be in that situation. We will have to take every chance we get. It is a big game, and sometimes big games don’t offer many chances. The few chances you get, you need to convert them.”