Shots at Kaizer Chiefs? Bafana Legend Explains Why Sundowns vs Pirates is Bigger Than Soweto Derby

While the Soweto Derby, pitting Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, is considered the biggest match in South Africa, a former Bafana Bafana star feels that is no longer the case.

In South Africa, the Soweto Derby is considered the biggest match, owing to its history and eternal rivalry of the two teams involved.

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are the two most popular teams in South Africa and until the emergence of Mamelodi Sundowns, they had been the most successful.

Chiefs and Pirates draw fans from every corner of the country and by extension Africa and when they play, everything in South Africa comes to a standstill.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Both teams draw their origin from Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa with former Pirates player Kaizer Motaung going on to form his own outfit, Kaizer Chiefs, after returning home from a stint abroad and the first derby was played in January 1970.

Chiefs and Pirates in the Shadows of Sundowns

However, in recent years, the fixture has lost its allure due to the on-pitch struggles of Pirates previously and Chiefs currently.

Pirates last won the Premier Soccer League in 2012 while Chiefs’ last PSL crown was 10 years ago and since then, Amakhosi have been struggling even to finish in the top four although Pirates have had a revival in the last three years under former coach Jose Riveiro.

On the other side, Mamelodi Sundowns have been going from strength to strength, winning the last eight league titles in a row, and 10 of the last 12, while in the CAF Champions League, they have been in the quarter-final and beyond in eight of the last nine seasons.

Sundowns also produce the bulk of national team players followed by Pirates while Chiefs stars rarely get selected by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

What has Modise Said About Soweto Derby?

It is from this backdrop that former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise claimed the Soweto Derby does not come close to the meeting between Pirates and Sundowns currently.

"Soweto Derby is big historically but not a big game in terms of football like Sundowns and Pirates," Modise said this week, ahead of Sundowns’ league meeting with Pirates on Saturday.

“I know there is the biggest fixture in the country from a history point of view, but from a football point of view, Sundowns and Pirates it is one of the biggest fixtures,” added the former Pirates and Sundowns star.

That observation has not gone down well with Chiefs fans but recent results would back Modise given the Glamour Boys have finished outside the top eight in the last two seasons while Pirates have finished runners-up to the Brazilians in the last three and appear to still be the genuine challengers to Sundowns for the league title this term.