Orlando Pirates are feeling supreme after beating Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 earlier this year, with several players stepping up on the day.
However, both teams have improved since then and are coming into the match with strong form in the Betway Premiership.
Former Buccaneers captain Happy Jele believes the next result will come down to one key area on the pitch.
MIDFIELD BATTLE KEY FOR ORLANDO PIRATES
Jele says the team that controls the middle of the park will have a big advantage in the derby. “I think the team that’s going to dominate in the middle of the park is going to win the game because if you look at both teams, on one side, you’ve got Lebogang (Maboe), who played very well,” Jele told Soccer Laduma.
“On the other side, you’ve got Mkhahleni Makhaula, Thalente Mbatha. You’ve got Sipho Mbule, you’ve got Relebohile Mofokeng, and Tito Maswanganyi in the middle of the park.
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“So, I think the middle of the park is going to be dominated by the team that wants to win more on the day because you have to work extra hard and make sure that you feed your strikers.”
BUCCANEERS ATTACK COULD MAKE DIFFERENCE
Jele also pointed to Pirates’ front players as another important factor in the game. “In the front three at Pirates, you look at Oswin Appollis, you look at Yanela Mbutuma, you look at Mofokeng also with Tshepang Moreni, it’s a more strike front force that are high speed. They’re very good, and Mbutuma is a scoring machine.
Jele said he always gets the chance, and he was happy that in the previous game the player managed to score a goal because his confidence was starting to dip, before he found the back of the net.
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The former Orlando Pirates captain was also pleased that all the players are helping him, giving him the motivation to continue pushing to score goals. Even when he misses an opportunity, someone is clapping their hands to encourage him to keep going.
WHICH MIDFIELD WILL COME OUT TOPS IN THE SOWETO DERBY DAY?
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