DR'S ART: WHY DERBY LOSING SPARK?

It is a mother of SA derby week. It is Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates. Are tickets sold out? Is the nation divided into two? When was the last time the Soweto Derby played in Soweto (maybe I’m being harsh to say Soweto), okay Johannesburg?

You still screeching your head, let me increase the places to Gauteng (this place or province I mentioned are home to these two teams)? Apart from reading the fixture when it was released by PSL, when did you realize that the derby is near?

This question is the one that makes the derby average not the players. Let me help on answering the question and comparing the answer with the past derbies. I’m not sure if tickets are sold out by now, but I’m sure if not sold out now by Saturday they’ll be sold-out.

Why the question of sold-out? When Chiefs and Pirates are playing in JHB, every soccer lover buys tickets at least two weeks before the game. If you don’t believe me ask people from Soweto (NB: not only Chiefs and Pirates supporters but soccer supporters).

To show that the derby is average, the record holder of early tickets sold-out is hold by Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs game. So this shows that there is something wrong with the derby, because these two teams are the most supported teams in SA.

Is the nation divided into two? Are Sundowns, Celtic supporters or other PSL teams choosing between the two teams? Are other supporters looking forward to the game? If the answer is yes, there fore the nation is really divided into two. But where I live it is like the same weekend as other weekends of PSL games, maybe the momentum will grow tomorrow or Saturday.

The last time the Soweto Derby was played eSoweto was 2005/6 season when Shaun Bartlett scored in the last minutes to equalized for Chiefs. And in JHB, it was the same season and the score was 1-1. Kosta Papić was incharge of Chiefs, while Bibey Mutombo (Rest In Peace) was Bucs coach. That was the last time we people from Soweto, JHB and Gauteng last saw Pirates and Chiefs play there.

What is the reason for the Derby to be played outside of Gauteng? Is it shortage of stadiums? Definitely NO, especially in Chiefs’ case. All Chiefs are looking for is the highest bid from companies that wants to host the Derby.

The only team that seems not to forget Gauteng people is Pirates. If you remember well they were not knee on taking the derby to be played in Durban when there was that FIFA draw, but some were some how they agree to the deal.

People from other provinces may think that I’m harsh on them, but truth be told; you need to wake up ekuseni in Soweto when Chiefs and Pirates are playing in FNB stadium. First time I witness this it was in 99 or 2000 and it was around 3am or 4am – Swallows supporter telling a Pirates supporter that today (the day of derby) he will leave his home, before I ask myself what is going on, the was an argument of who will win.

This debate lasted till 5am – something I’ve never seen before, all the guys were geared up for the game, drinking and debating. I got scared thinking that maybe it was 2pm and the game was about to start only to find that it is still around 5am.

The reason for waking up early was that they couldn’t sleep anymore… they wanted to see the game. My story may not convince you, but if it happens again that the derby is played in Soweto… please make sure you sleep eSoweto as you will understand the different.

Remember this is not personal but my view!
DR NDIVHUWO

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