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Pressing Issues: Pirates and Chiefs are in the same boat

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Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates Picture: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates Picture: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

There have been many differences that have set Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates apart since the former broke away in 1970.

However, in recent times, there have been more similarities than differences since the days when the two club bosses, Kaizer Motaung and Irvin Khoza, decided to go for joint ventures.

One of the initial such innovations that shook the South Africa football fraternity to its foundation was when the two Soweto giants announced a joint sponsorship from cellular network provider Vodacom.

This gave birth to the now defunct and forgotten Vodacom Challenge, which saw the sides host a duo of big guns from the continent.

The other one, which now seems to also be defunct, was the Carling Black Label Cup, known as the Beer Cup in football circles.

This was a pre-season competition played exclusively by the two sides.

The variation that made it even more appealing to the spectators was that supporters were given a chance to select the starting line-up for each club.

On match day, two lucky fans became coaches for the first 45 minutes and then the clubs’ official coaches took over in the last stanza.

Right now, the two well-decorated Goliaths of the local game find themselves in the same unenviable boat.

When Amakhosi take on Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal match this afternoon at Mbombela Stadium, they are expected to throw everything at the Citizens.

Why, you may ask.

Because the Nedbank Cup – also known as Ke Yona – is the only remaining hope for Chiefs to lay their hands on any silverware this season.

On the other hand, Pirates, who face Mamelodi Sundowns in what the PSL, in its wisdom, decided to schedule for tomorrow, a day known as April Fools’ Day, will not take the match as a joke because it might make the huge difference between their finishing the season empty-handed or lifting a trophy.

Just like their archrivals – if one can still call the charade between the two clubs a rivalry – Pirates are left with one shot at a title this season.

The clubs being in the same boat does not end there ... should they both finish this season empty-handed, it will be the fifth successive year without any silverware.

Going into tomorrow’s match, Pirates are in a neck-and-neck race with log-topping Sundowns and second-placed Bidvest Wits.

The Buccaneers are third with 40 points from 23 outings, trailing the Brazilians by three, their having played the same number of games. Wits have 41 spoils from 24 outings.

Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City is still in with a shout and will have a lot to say about the direction of the Absa Premiership trophy.

They are lying fourth with 40 points from 24 matches, while SuperSport United are not totally out of the race, with 39 from 24.

While the run-in to the league title promises to be very exciting, this might only be reserved for the neutrals, as there will be a lot of nail biting and gnashing of teeth for those who support any of the clubs currently in the top four bracket.

As if Pirates’ litmus test that awaits them when they host Sundowns at their spiritual home, Orlando Stadium, tomorrow was not enough, their next assignment will be an outing against Wits.

Sundowns still have to face SuperSport United in a Tshwane derby that has been rescheduled, given that they will be playing a CAF champions league match on Saturday.

However, the two sets of Pirates and Chiefs diehards will only be focusing on their club’s results that will send them into either delirium or the deep belly of utter despair.

Football is not a game for sissies or the faint-hearted, and what awaits the two clubs’ faithful is an unenviable last two months of the season.

Whichever way you choose to look at it, Chiefs and Pirates are in the same boat in more ways than one.

Follow me on Twitter @Sbu_Mseleku


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