Soweto rivalry reignited
Pirates and Chiefs are set to clash in the Carling Black Label Cup on 27 July.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
South Africa’s most sought-after pre-season showpiece, the Carling Black Label Cup, was launched at Park Station in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Following a year long hiatus, the country’s most innovative sporting fixture makes a return this year with two of the biggest clubs in South Africa - Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates - scheduled to battle for the coveted title in the eighth edition on 27 July, in what is expected to be a exciting Soweto derby.
The cup was first launched in 2011. Pirates have won it four times, while Chiefs have lifted the trophy three times. Both clubs through Happy Jele (captain of Pirates) and Willard Katsande (vice-captain of Chiefs) vowed to lift the cup and boost their players ahead of the 2019/20 premier league season.
“We had a great season. We showed that we wanted to win and now we are looking forward to the next season and to keeping the momentum going,” Jele said.
He said the cup helps by building the morale of the players through winning trophies and they will use the match to show that they mean business next season.
Katsande said that winning on all fronts is the only way they can revive the club’s glory days.
“This is not an easy cup. It’s huge because we know the history of the two clubs. Whenever they meet, there’s no friendly match,” he said.
“This will be our first competitive match of the pre-season and it’s going to gauge how far we are. When we win against Pirates, it gives an extra boost going forward. We need to give our all and try to redeem ourselves.”
Katsande further described the past season as “embarrassing”.
“Wherever we go people are laughing and criticising us. But we will use the criticism and work harder for the next season, in order to avoid being a laughing stock,” added the Chiefs vice-captain.
Pirates’ coach Micho Sredojevic represented the club, while former Bafana Bafana star Shaun Bartlett stood in for Chiefs in his capacity as assistant coach, in the absence of coach Ernst Middendorp, who many feel will be axed following a horror 2018/19 season.
Chiefs ended ninth on the log, while Pirates took second spot.
“He is around. The invite that was extended to us as a club was for the captain and the assistant coach. That is why I am here and not the coach, but unfortunately I don’t think their (Pirates) assistant coaches are in the country due to post-season trips or for whatever reason,” Bartlett said at the launch.
One of the special guests at the event was former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who was pleased with the fans’ involvement in the game.
South Africa’s most sought-after pre-season showpiece, the Carling Black Label Cup, was launched at Park Station in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Following a year long hiatus, the country’s most innovative sporting fixture makes a return this year with two of the biggest clubs in South Africa - Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates - scheduled to battle for the coveted title in the eighth edition on 27 July, in what is expected to be a exciting Soweto derby.
The cup was first launched in 2011. Pirates have won it four times, while Chiefs have lifted the trophy three times. Both clubs through Happy Jele (captain of Pirates) and Willard Katsande (vice-captain of Chiefs) vowed to lift the cup and boost their players ahead of the 2019/20 premier league season.
“We had a great season. We showed that we wanted to win and now we are looking forward to the next season and to keeping the momentum going,” Jele said.
He said the cup helps by building the morale of the players through winning trophies and they will use the match to show that they mean business next season.
Katsande said that winning on all fronts is the only way they can revive the club’s glory days.
“This is not an easy cup. It’s huge because we know the history of the two clubs. Whenever they meet, there’s no friendly match,” he said.
“This will be our first competitive match of the pre-season and it’s going to gauge how far we are. When we win against Pirates, it gives an extra boost going forward. We need to give our all and try to redeem ourselves.”
Katsande further described the past season as “embarrassing”.
“Wherever we go people are laughing and criticising us. But we will use the criticism and work harder for the next season, in order to avoid being a laughing stock,” added the Chiefs vice-captain.
Pirates’ coach Micho Sredojevic represented the club, while former Bafana Bafana star Shaun Bartlett stood in for Chiefs in his capacity as assistant coach, in the absence of coach Ernst Middendorp, who many feel will be axed following a horror 2018/19 season.
Chiefs ended ninth on the log, while Pirates took second spot.
“He is around. The invite that was extended to us as a club was for the captain and the assistant coach. That is why I am here and not the coach, but unfortunately I don’t think their (Pirates) assistant coaches are in the country due to post-season trips or for whatever reason,” Bartlett said at the launch.
One of the special guests at the event was former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who was pleased with the fans’ involvement in the game.
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