Pick a winner: Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates in their 106th league meeting on Saturday, 9 March. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
Soweto derby: Three Kaizer Chiefs hot shots – remember them?
Pick a winner: On Saturday, 9 March, Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates in their 106th league meeting since they first met in 1971.
Pick a winner: Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates in their 106th league meeting on Saturday, 9 March. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
On Saturday, 9 March 2024, Kaizer Chiefs will face bitter rivals Orlando Pirates in the 106th league meeting between the teams since they first met in April 1971.
In their previous 105 encounters, a number of players have produced standout performances and made the difference for the Glamour Boys when it mattered most.
Below, a look at THREE of those Kaizer Chiefs ‘hot shots’ who etched their names into Soweto derby folklore:
Herman ‘Pele’ Blaschke
The Namibia-born Blaschke is Kaizer Chiefs’ top foreign goal scorer in Soweto derby games against Orlando Pirates with a total of six goals for Amakhosi.
After netting in Kaizer Chiefs’ first ever league game against African Wanderers on 17 April 1971 – an 11-1 win – Blaschke scored Amkhosi’s first ever league goal in a 4-3 win over the Buccaneers in their next league game on 24 April, 1971.
He would be on target again in Kaizer Chiefs’ next league game against Orlando Pirates on 6 November 1971, opening the scoring in a 2-1 away triumph to become the first Kaizer Chiefs player to score in both league fixtures in the same season.
Blaschke helped Kaizer Chiefs win the Life Challenge Cup in 1971, a season in which he would score 21 goals in all competitions.
John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu
‘Shoes’, as he was affectionately known, was the star of the show as Kaizer Chiefs defeated Orlando Pirates 2-0 in a league game almost 21 years ago on 15 March 2003.
Orlando Pirates were favourites for the title that season, but Moshoeu had other ideas, stepping up and turning the game on its head to hand Amakhosi the lead on 72 minutes.
David Radebe then scored a second in the 79th minute to secure the points at home for Amakhosi.
All of Soccer City were up on their feet applauding the sublime touches and skill of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, as Kaizer Chiefs ended a three-game winless run in league matches against Orlando Pirates.
Fani Madida
The 1991 campaign was a special one for Kaizer Chiefs as the club won multiple trophies, including the league title.
Kaizer Chiefs won their opening 17 league games of the season and Madida was the key striking force behind Amakhosi’s success.
He and fellow striker Shane MacGregor were key to Amakhosi’s title challenge.
Madida’s standout performance of a season in which he won the Golden Boot was in a 3-0 league win on 27 April 1991, away from home.
He scored the opening goal and played a key role in helping MacGregor grab a brace to steer the Glamour Boys to their ninth league win in a row.
Later that season, Madida would score Kaizer Chiefs’ second goal in a 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in the Challenge Cup final.
Madida became one of only two players, along with former Orlando Pirates player Alfred Jacobs, to score in four successive Soweto derbies when he scored in Kaizer Chiefs’ 3-0 win in the opening game of the 1992 season on 15 February 1992.
Who will be the hero at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 9 March 2024?
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As reported by The South African website, the match is sold out.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:30.
