SOWETO – It does not get bigger than the Soweto Derby. South Africans on home soil and abroad pause their lives to witness one of the longest running rivalries in sports.
The derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs dates back to 1970 and while the players are the ones on the field, the fans take it personally too.
On Saturday, ahead of the 3.30pm kick off at FNB Stadium, retired former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said the love of the game unites everyone.
“Here in South Africa, we see gold and black, black and white and it brings us together as a nation, and it unites us.
The match is expected to draw in thousands of spectators who are all gripped by the derby fever.
“It is just a football match for 90 minutes, but the impact that it leaves in our country goes to show the world what South African culture is all about. It is all about unity,” Khune said.
The derby is one of the biggest fixtures in the South African football calendar.