Pirates’ fans urged to board derby ship

The Soweto derby is traditionally one of Premier Soccer League’s biggest matches. But this weekend, the fixture could see Kaizer Chiefs supporters travelling from Emjindini to Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium alone due to Orlando Pirates poor start to the season.

Pirates go into the clash with their archrivals in fourth place on 35-points, 12-points behind log leaders Chiefs, who have 47 points. (This will exclude today’s (March 4) results: Chiefs will today host Ajax Cape Town while Pirates travel to Free State Stars).

With the passing of Senzo Meyiwa in October last year, The Buccaneers fans have no trust in Brighton Mhlongo, and this has resulted in them staying away from attending games in droves.

As of Monday only one Pirates supporter from Emjindini has registered to join their Chiefs counterparts on the planned trip to go and watch the derby, which is an unthinkably low number for such an important game.

Only two Pirates supporters from Emjindini showed up last December to see their team losing 0-2 to Chiefs in the season first derby.

This happened to be the first derby to be played after the death of Meyiwa. The non-attendance of Pirates supporters the derby has prompted Umjindi Chiefs supporters coordinator, Maras “Kortman” Nkosi, who is also the coordinator for the recently established Soccer Laduma Supporters Club (SLSC), to plead with Pirates fans to show up for the match saying: “A derby without you makes no sense.”

The SLSC is an organisation aimed at encouraging football lovers to put their club allegiance aside and pool their collective football passion.

Nkosi hope Pirates four straight wins could revive interest, after the Buccaneers showed grit to win matches they could have easily lost in the past.

Any football lovers wishing to attend the derby can contact Nkosi on 072-438-4595. A return fare is R380 per person, which includes the match ticket.