Orlando Pirates have announced their starting line-up to face arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the first Soweto Derby of the season this afternoon.
Millions of South Africans will be glued to their TV screens, while nearly 90,000 people will be at the sold-out FNB Stadium to witness the Soweto derby.
This is a football match where form and history don’t count for much, as both teams take this as an opportunity to claim bragging rights in Soweto.
The Buccaneers are wounded, coming into this game after a league defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns and a shocking Nedbank Cup exit to Casric Stars.
This is the first Soweto derby for Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou; and he will be keen to start with three points – the last Bucs coach to do so was Julio Leal in 2011.
Pirates are currently sitting in second place with 38 points after 17 games, level with Mamelodi Sundowns who will face Sekhukhune United on Sunday.
A win or draw would see them go top of the Betway Premiership – at least until Sunday. Pirates won five of the last 10 games between the two sides, including winning four matches in a row.
Here is how they line up:
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Seema, Hotto, Sebelebele, Makhaula, Mbatha, Mofokeng, Moremi, Appollis, Mbuthuma
Subs: Buthelezi, Dansin, Chabatsane, Maswanganyi, Van Rooyen, Makgopa, Nemtajela, de Jong, Ndaba
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
