Soweto soccer giants meet in battle for coveted cup glory

As football fervour grips South Africa for the second successive week, Soweto football giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday for the coveted Nedbank Cup trophy.

The stakes could not be higher as Chiefs seek their first piece of silverware in a decade, while Pirates aim to continue their dominance in the competition.

Chiefs’ painful decade-long drought has left fans anxiously longing for a return to their club’s former glory.

The last time the Amakhosi celebrated a major title was during the 2014/2015 season, and there has been growing pressure for the team to regain its status as one of the giants of South African football.

On the other side, the Buccaneers will look to extend their legacy by adding another trophy to their cabinet and asserting dominance over their arch-rivals.

Their coach, Jose Riveiro, has a chance to make history with a potential third consecutive Nedbank Cup title after leading his team to triumph in 2023 and 2024.

If Riveiro succeeds, it would be an unparalleled achievement, as no coach has ever lifted the trophy three years in a row. Pirates will come into this final with an impressive record.

It marks their seventh appearance in the Nedbank Cup final since 2008, a record surpassing that of other competitors, including Mamelodi Sundowns, who have attended six.

The Buccaneers have claimed the trophy four times, while Chiefs will contest their third final during this period, having won their last one in 2013. The historic Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the final for the fifth time, a venue that has seen its share of epic clashes.

In past finals, Chiefs claimed a 1-0 victory over SuperSport United in 2013, while Pirates triumphed 3-1 against Wits the following year.

Contrasting records ensued as SuperSport outplayed Pirates 4-1 in 2017, before Chiefs suffered a surprising upset against second-tier side TS Galaxy in 2019.

Each team has tasted the bittersweet of victory and loss in this grand arena. This year’s final is particularly notable as it marks the first time the two Soweto rivals have met in this tournament since Nedbank began sponsoring the cup in 2008.

Over the last 17 years, the two teams have clashed just twice in the knockout stage, with Pirates emerging victorious on both occasions, adding an extra layer of tension to the fixture.

The excitement around the match has intensified, with both teams’ star players finding form at just the right time.

Chiefs’ Pule Mmodi and Pirates’ Tshegofatso Mabasa currently share the spotlight atop the tournament’s scoring charts, each netting four goals.

As they head into the final, both players will be eager to claim the Golden Boot and etch their names in the history books.

As the countdown begins to this monumental clash, one thing is sure: the spectacle promises to rekindle the passion and intensity of one of South Africa’s storied rivalries.

Both teams are motivated to write a new chapter in their history, with players and fans looking forward to lifting the prestigious trophy high in celebration on Saturday.