Retired Orlando Pirates striker Andries Sebola has shot down Tshegofatso Mabasa’s ‘imaginary’ claim about the Soweto Derby.
The 180th chapter of the legendary Soweto Derby unfolds on Saturday afternoon at the iconic FNB Stadium in Soweto. Pirates will host their arch-rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, with bragging rights and crucial league points on the line. Kick-off is set for 15h30 in Soweto.
During Thursday’s Soweto Derby press conference held in Sandton, Pirates striker Mabasa made a bold statement. He declared the clash between SA giants Bucs and Chiefs as the biggest match in Africa.
“This is the biggest game I believe in Africa, you know, arguably,” said Mabasa. “Growing up, I always used to watch the Soweto Derby. And to be a part of it is a huge privilege and honour.
“The best way to repay that is by going out on Saturday, giving a performance of our lives, and hopefully getting the three points.”
Mabasa’s claim found support from Pirates’ media officer, Thandi Merafe. However, erstwhile striker Sebola isn’t convinced, taking a strong stance against this assertion.
While acknowledging the Soweto Derby’s status as SA’s biggest fixture in terms of attendance and hype, Sebola argues that on-field performance has dipped.
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He attributes this decline to coaches prioritising avoiding defeat over playing attractive football.
“The game is not the biggest on the African continent because the players are not performing like the previous players that were there playing the derbies when we were still playing derbies,” Sebola told FARPost.
“So now things have changed, people are going to the stadium yes, they will fill the FNB Stadium tomorrow.
“But you will find that there won’t be entertainment in the game, especially because coaches are trying to save their skin. They will make sure that they defend more, attack only on counter-attacks so that they can score goals but an open game won’t be there.”
Once regarded as one of Africa’s top clashes and even cracking the top 10 most intense global rivalries, the Soweto Derby has lost some of its shine. The dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns in recent years in the PSL has cast a shadow over both Pirates and Chiefs.
“Mabasa can say all those things, but they must show the people of Africa and South Africa that this is the real derby as we did in the past,” added Sebola.
“But things have changed, it is no longer the same derby we are used to seeing, the standards have dropped.”
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