April 29, 2004
By Lucky Sindane
WITH six more games left in the Premier Soccer League, the FNB stadium - better known as Soccer City - is likely to be filled to capacity on 1 May when Kaizer Chiefs meet Orlando Pirates in the hopes of opening up the gap between them and Ajax Cape Town breathing down their necks.
Chiefs are the current log leaders with 55 points, followed by Ajax Cape Town with 50; both teams have played 24 matches. The last time the two sides met, Chiefs won 1 - 0.
A notable event in the calendar, the clash between the two Soweto soccer giants always fills the stadium to capacity with passionate supporters from as far afield as Cape Town sporting fancy hard hats, painted faces and overalls, blowing "Vuvuzela" from the first minute until the last.
"This derby is a very big one and you can't take that away. There's always pressure when these two sides meet," said Pirates coach, Augusto Palacios.
"About 780 people will be on duty - not including the metro police and the South African Police Service, who haven't given the numbers of officers who will be on duty - and about 50 medical personnel will be on duty. We want to ensure the safety of the supporters," said FNB stadium managing director Dennis Mumble.
Players and match officials will wear black arm bands to commemorate the 51 workers who lost their lives last year on 1 May last year in a bus accident at Saulspoort Dam.
The main concern for the mighty Amakhosi (Kaizer Chiefs), who hope to win the Premier Soccer League for the first time in 12 years, is Pirate's 18-year-old striker, Lebohang Mokoena, who created four goals and scored one during their game against St Michel last Sunday.
However, Chiefs manager, Bobby Motaung, is unfazed. "Pirates will get a very good hiding and once we beat them the rest of the teams will just fall away," he said.
"I would like to say well done to Pirates players, they played very well during their last game. They showed people the flair. Our focus is on the League and derby, which is always the final. We are also happy that three of our players will be back from injury," Chiefs coach, Ted Dumitru, added.
Supporters are encouraged to come early to take part in the festivities, which include Vodacom prizes of R25 000 each to a lucky Buccanner and Amakhosi supporter.
The curtain-raiser for the derby, a celebrity's match between the Buccaneers and the Amakhosi, will include the likes of Mapaputsi, Arthur Mafukate, Teboho Moloi and Tshepo Mabona and artists like Pitch Black Afro, Zola, DJ Ganyani will keep the crowd on their feet.
Tickets for the derby can be bought from Computicket: R20 for adults and R15 for children. Suite tickets are available from Macy or Pana on 011 484 2084.
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