Here in South Africa we call it "Soweto Derby" or "El Kasico". Soccer fans are wondering why I am not mentioning Spanish El Classio, just forget about the Spanish El Classico which is not Derby but the world great soccer fixture.
Tomorrow, South Africa will be divided for 90 minutes when the two Soweto giants will be locking horns against each other for an El Kasico or Derby fixture. It would be a rare moment when the hot to handle Orlando Pirates will be facing the Premier Soccer League team of the moment Kaizer Chiefs.
Let me unpacked the tactical strengths and weakness of the two teams prior to the derby without fear nor favour. As usual my loyalty cap is off.
1. Pirates’ goals this season are coming from all the departments. Not just goals but out of this world cracker of goals.
2. Pirates has balance, creative, skillful midfielders coupled with the fastest wingers in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). Orlando Pirates wing play is very effective.
3. Pirates has the best and invisible offensive 4-3-2-1 tactical system which always changed to 3-4-2-1 when Thabo Matlaba joining in the offensive move. In the last 6 games, Pirates scored 13 goals, conceded 1 goal, won 4 games and drew 2. This new Roger de Sa system is simple the best.
4. Pirates has the best defensive record with 7 goals conceded in the 13 games.
5. Pirates is good when it comes to initiate moves from the back. Their offensive movements always started from defence-midfielders-strikers. They have best build up but the build-up always affected little bit by Andile Ngcaba who likes playing long balls forward.
6. Pirates players have an ability to score goals away from the box.
Orlando Pirates tactical weakness
1. When Pirates players are under pressure, they easily succumb to the pressure - against Chippa United, Pirates players were tactical out of sorts due to derby pressure. Players were thinking about Derby than collecting 3 points against United.
2. Pirates is always vulnerable to counter attacks when Thabo Matlaba is making his offensive moves but surprisingly, Pirates hasn't conceded many goals as a result of counter attacks.
3. Pirates defence lacks speed against players with blistering pace. Lucky Lekgwathi and Siyabonga Sangweni were cut into pieces by Calvin Kadi recently.
1. The PSL best scorers with two of its players Lehlohonolo Majoro and Bernard Parker as PSL leading the goalscoring chat with 15 combined goals. Majoro and Parker have scored more than the whole Mamelodi Sundowns team this season.
2. Chiefs scored goals as if their "out of fashion". They are the PSL best scorer with 27 goals which is 8 goals more than the second highest goalscorer Platinum Stars and Swallows.
3. Chiefs dominated possession in all the PSL games they have played to this end. Chiefs’ players are good in controlling games with accurate passes distributed to each other.
4. Chiefs players are enjoying freedom to express themselves but in a tactical discipline manner. Stuart Baxter doesn't put his boys under unnecessary pressure. He doesn't even yell at the players when chips are down.
5. They have the best keeper in Mzansi - Itumeleng Khune. Khune always rise to the occasions in big games. He is a heartbeat of Chiefs.
6. Chiefs has the best goal difference of 7 goals compared to Pirates.
Kaizer Chiefs Weaknesses
1. Chiefs always struggled when Mulomowandau 'Tower' Mathoho, Reneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane and Khune are not around.
2. Chiefs offensive moves are predictable with Yeye moving forward playing short passes to Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala whilst Willard Katsande lacks movement going forward. If Yeye is marked out of the game, Chiefs hardly moves.
3. Chiefs goals are mostly coming from strikers whilst other departments hardly contribute to goals.
4. The left back position is the weakest link and suspicious for leaking goals.
5. Chiefs defensive pair of Tower Mathoho and Tefu Mashamaite are good with aerial balls and balls distribution but can also easily exposed by fast strikers just like Sangweni and Lekgwathi.
6. Chiefs has 11 quality players with the rest as quantity players. They don't have a game winners or impact player from the bench. They have thin bench but the starting 11 is solid as rock.
Verdict
Football will be the winner but the first team to score will win 1-0.
By Owen Mundalamo
