Football
KweséESPN staff 5y

Kaizer Chiefs' Soweto Derby heroes

Saturday's Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is crying out for a hero as the teams seek inspiration to claim what would be a massive victory for either side.

With the match an 82 000 sell-out at FNB Stadium and millions more watching on television, it is the perfect platform for reputations to be forged as the Soweto duo try to mount a league title challenge after a number of barren seasons.

KweséESPN delves into the history books and comes up with the top individual Kaizer Chiefs performances in the history of South Africa's biggest football match.

EBISON MUGOYO
Mugoyo scored the first ever Soweto Derby hat-trick when he netted a treble in a rampant 5-1 success for Chiefs in a BP TOP 16 semifinal replay in 1975, with two of the goals coming in extra-time. Mugoyo would score nine goals in Derby matches in his career, placing him joint-fifth on the all-time scorers list, but perhaps his finest game was this thumping success for the AmaKhosi. His goal took the game to extra-time at 1-1 before he added a second to hand Chiefs the lead, and from there on in they seized control of the fixture against a shell-shocked Pirates. He also scored the winner in a Benson & Hedges final in 1977, which would prove his final Derby goal, with all nine effectively coming in just three seasons.

SHAUN BARTLETT
It was in December 2006 that Pirates stood on the brink of a famous win over their arch-rivals, only to have the ex-Bafana Bafana ace steal the three points away from them. Pirates had taken the lead after only nine minutes through Benedict Vilakazi, and they could have been further ahead by half-time had they had not fluffed further chances. Bartlett and Roston Kilambe were brought on by Chiefs at half-time and it seemed to make a difference to their performance, but still Pirates had two more gilt-edged chances to double the score. It was deep in injury time when Pirates got to rue their misses. A corner was won by Chiefs and even goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez went forward in a bid to score, but it was Bartlett who got his head to the ball and equalised as referee Abdul Ibrahim blew his final whistle.

JOSEPH SETLHODI
A goal-scoring goalkeeper, Joseph 'Gordan Banks' Setlhodi was a danger at both ends of the pitch, both with the gloves on and as a set-piece taker for the AmaKhosi. He would end his 15-year stay at Chiefs with five Soweto Derby goals, not to mention the many excellent saves that won games for his side. His first Derby goal came in 1971 in what was likely then the only occurrence of goalkeepers from either side scoring in a game! Setlhodi's penalty in the first half was matched by his opposite number Simon Mathebela, but Chiefs went on to claim victory in the Old Dutch Champion of Champions semifinal game thanks to strikes from stalwarts Thomas Johnson and Kaizer Motaung. Setlhodi took the Chiefs penalties up until 1973, after which he handed over the reins to others.

TEENAGE DLADLA
The 1976 league match played KwaThema was an emotive meeting just weeks after the death of Ewert Nene, and made even more poignant because it marked the debut of Dladla. Nene, the long-time Chiefs manager, had been killed by thugs when he went to the Springs township to sign Dladla, who repaid the memory of Nene with a Man of the Match performance. Chiefs took an early lead through Ebison Mugoyo, whose goal was set up by 'Shaka' Ngcobo's cross from the left. Dladla set up the second for Mugoyo, who drove home a powerful shot. As if inspired by the memory of Nene, Chiefs dominated throughout the game, so much so that goalkeeper Banks Setlhodi only made two saves throughout the 90 minutes.

MABHUTI KHENYEZA
The temperamental striker spent only one season at Chiefs, but what an impact he made in the derby in 2007. The match was moved to Durban to offer visitors a glimpse of the best of South African league football on the eve of the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup. It was also screened on Eurosport for the first time. And what a glimpse they were given at a packed King's Park when Khenyeza scored after just 19 seconds. The game was kicked off by Franz Beckenbauer and French World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, but they were quickly forgotten in a dream start for AmaKhosi. It was not only the fastest goal in the derby, but also the quickest in the history of the Premier Soccer League.

FANI MADIDA
Chiefs came back from two goals down to win a thrilling Coca-Cola Cup first round game after extra time in 1992, beset by problems from the outset. The game turned just 12 minutes from the end when Bernard Lushozi handled in the box and referee Stan Swart awarded Chiefs a spot-kick, from which Madida made no mistake with a low drive to the right hand corner. As Chiefs still looked vulnerable, so they grabbed a dramatic equaliser on the final whistle when Albert Bwalya went sliding in and hit a half-volley into the net. In extra-time, Donald Khuse set up Chiefs' winner by beginning a marvellous interchange of passes. Johannes Phadime looped the ball into the box and Doctor Khumalo headed it on for Madida to finish.

DAVID OBUA
In the 2005/2006 season, the Ugandan international scored in successive matches for Chiefs. The first came at Soccer City as Chiefs won 2-0, with AmaKhosi getting off to a pulsating start and never looking back after Obua volleyed home Thabo Mooki's corner after just four minutes. It was one of the best-ever derby goals. Two months later, Obua got the only goal of the game as Chiefs won 1-0. This time he scored with a smart header at the end of Dikheto Mototo's free-kick.

SIYABONGA NOMVETE
The two clubs met three days after Chiefs had beaten Mamelodi Sundowns to win the Bob Save Super Bowl in June 2000, with the match played on a Tuesday night as the league tried to bring a belated close to the season. The game produced fireworks from the start, with Nomvete and Denis Lota of Pirates both determined to clinch the award for the season's top league scorer. Lota's goal ensured him 18 while Nomvete's double brought his tally to 15 for the league season, although both scored 20 in total in the season. Nomvete opened the scoring in the very first minute, but Lota equalised 60 seconds later. Bucs' new coach Gordon Igesund could not sit on the bench but still issued instructions from the sidelines. Nomvete made it 2-1 after an hour from the penalty spot, but Pirates equalised 12 minutes later.

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