Orlando Pirates legend Eugene Zwane has identified the key players he believes will dictate the tempo and outcome of the upcoming Betway Premiership Soweto Derby between the Buccaneers and Kaizer Chiefs.
The two Soweto giants are set to lock horns this Sunday, April 26, at the iconic FNB Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 CAT.
Highlighting the magnitude of the fixture, tickets were officially declared sold out after a day of being made available for purchase.
Both teams come into this showpiece in impressive form. The Abdeslam Ouaddou-led Pirates side is currently unbeaten in its last eight outings. Meanwhile, Amakhosi have managed to avoid defeat in their previous six matches, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.
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Speaking to FARPost, Zwane emphasised that the Buccaneers’ strength lies in their clinical frontline. He pointed to three specific players who have become the heartbeat of Pirates attack.
“Well, on Pirates’ side, we will look at the forwards because they have hit form, specifically Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Oswin Appollis. These three have become very influential for Orlando Pirates,” Zwane told FARPost.
Zwane also highlighted the statistical dominance [29 goal contribution] of Mofokeng and Appollis, who have become one of the league’s most feared creative duos this season.
Mofokeng has scored 11 goals and weighed in with eight assists, while Appollis has found the back of the net on 11 occasions and contributed nine assists across all competitions.
“You look at ‘Rele’ and Appollis; they have about 29 goal contributions for the team. This shows how dangerous and important they are for Pirates, so one cannot rule them out of the picture.”
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Turning his attention to the Glamour Boys, Zwane noted that while their strike force has lacked consistency for much of the season, there are signs of a resurgence just in time for the Soweto Derby.
“Kaizer Chiefs, on the other hand, their firing line has not really been in form. They struggled to score goals until, in recent weeks, they finally got their mojo back,” he revealed.
Zwane singled out Mduduzi Shabalala as a player capable of rising to the big occasion.
“I think Mduduzi Shabalala has stepped up a little bit, although he has not been finding the back of the net with the regularity that one would like. However, I think given the platform or stage of the Soweto Derby, he will see it as an opportunity to shine,” Zwane added.
Beyond the front line, Zwane believes the battle for control in the middle of the park and the energy will be decisive for the Naturena-based side, especially with someone like Lebohang Maboe, who has won five Man of the Match accolades this season.
Wandile Duba was also listed by the former Pirates captain, Zwane, as a potential game-changer for Chiefs on the day.
“I think Lebohang Maboe in the midfield has given them some stability when it comes to attacking from the middle of the park. So, I will look at Maboe, Shabalala, and Wandile Duba on the side of Kaizer Chiefs.”
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