The unmistakable chemistry between Kaizer Chiefs’ Mfundo Vilakazi and Orlando Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi goes beyond the rivalry that typically defines the Soweto Derby.
Just last month, Pirates’ fan favourite, Maswanganyi, offered words of encouragement to Amakhosi’s youngster, Vilakazi, on social media. In what seems a gesture of reciprocation, the Amakhosi starlet paid tribute to his Soweto Derby rival, Maswanganyi, on Saturday during a live Instagram video.
Following the Carling XI All Stars victory, Vilakazi, who had been on the bench alongside Maswanganyi, went live on social media wearing Maswanganyi’s jersey with the Bucs star’s surname emblazoned across the chest.
In the video, the 19-year-old sang the famous ‘We Tito, we Tito, we Tito…” chant. He playfully commentated on an imaginary match, declaring that ‘Tito’ had scored a hat-trick.
This public display of admiration follows Maswanganyi’s previous gesture. After Chiefs suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout Cup, Vilakazi was visibly distraught.
Maswanganyi took to Instagram to offer words of comfort to the young player, writing, “Kuzolunga njayam khululeka” [loosely translated as “It’s gonna be fine, my brother, don’t stress”].
During a Carling All–Star XI training session, the two players were captured playfully pushing each other, confirming the brotherhood.
HAS THE SOWETO DERBY RIVALRY CHANGED?
Interestingly, Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi and Tinashe Nengomasha were once neighbours. At the peak of their careers, they resided in the same complex in Naturena.
Vilakazi, affectionately known as ‘The Little Napoleon,’ played for Orlando Pirates while Nengomasha was with Chiefs. This intense rivalry extended beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.
“I remember encountering Tso Vilakazi in the parking lot of our complex,” Nengomasha recalled in an interview with FARPost. “We wouldn’t even exchange greetings. He would go about his business, and I would do the same. There was no room for friendship. He was Pirates, I was Chiefs. That’s how intense it was.”
Vilakazi, who played for Pirates between 1999 and 2007, has previously confirmed Nengomasha’s story. “That’s how it was; we’d never speak, especially ahead of the derby. It was intense during our time,” Vilakazi recalled.
FORMER YANGA PLAYER OFFERS TANZANIA DERBY RIVALRY PERSPECTIVE
Former Young Africans SC player Yusuph Athuman offered a Tanzanian perspective. He revealed the fierce rivalry between Tanzania’s most prominent rivals, Yanga and Simba, which extends beyond the pitch.
He acknowledged that despite the intense rivalry, friendships exist between players on both sides, as many play together for national teams. However, he emphasised that these friendships cannot be publicly displayed.
“We are friends, and some played together in the national teams. However, the players can’t go out to eat together. They can’t be seen in public together.“
Interestingly, the two clubs, partners with the national airline Air Tanzania, recently refused to share a flight to Algeria. They both had CAF fixtures in the North African country on the same weekend.
An official told FARPost recently: “We were asked to get one flight to Algeria. Travelling together would have given us a 70% discount. We were playing in Algiers and Simba in Constantine [400km apart]. Our team refused, and Simba refused also. We had to go via Dubai instead of the direct 8–hour flight. We couldn’t be on the same flight with Simba.”
Notably, in Tanzania, rival fans are never seen sitting together during the Kariakoo Derby or walking together to the stadium.
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