{"id":43573,"date":"2026-10-23T08:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=43573"},"modified":"2026-10-23T08:27:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:27:49","slug":"soweto-derby-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/soweto-derby-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Soweto Derby History: How South Africa\u2019s Biggest Football Rivalry Began"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 31 October 2026, the stands will be packed for a rivalry that has defined South African football for more than 55 years. The 63 680 tickets released to the public sold out within hours.<\/p><div id=\"gaute-2014662781\" class=\"gaute-after-paragraph-1 gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Soweto Derby is more than a match. It\u2019s a family argument, a township tradition, a business event and one of the biggest club rivalries in African football. It was born from a split between a club and one of its star players, has survived tragedy and has produced some of the most memorable moments in South African sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the full story: how it began, the matches people still talk about, the darkest days, the records and why it still matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soweto Derby At A Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Orlando Pirates<\/th><th>Kaizer Chiefs<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Founded<\/strong><\/td><td>1937, Orlando East, Soweto<\/td><td>7 January 1970<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Nicknames<\/strong><\/td><td>Buccaneers, Bucs, the Happy People<\/td><td>Amakhosi (\u201cKings\u201d or \u201cChiefs\u201d in isiZulu), Glamour Boys<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Colours<\/strong><\/td><td>Black and white<\/td><td>Gold and black<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Home ground<\/strong><\/td><td>Orlando Stadium (Orlando Amstel Arena), with derbies usually at FNB Stadium<\/td><td>FNB Stadium<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Founding figure<\/strong><\/td><td>James Mpanza and the Orlando Boys Club<\/td><td>Kaizer Motaung<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>League titles (PSL era and before)<\/strong><\/td><td>10, including 2025\/26<\/td><td>12, the most recent in 2014\/15<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>First derby:<\/strong> 24 January 1970<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Most derby goals:<\/strong> Pule \u201cAce\u201d Ntsoelengoe (Chiefs), 19<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Next derby:<\/strong> Saturday, 31 October 2026, FNB Stadium (Pirates home)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Return league derby:<\/strong> Saturday, 13 March 2027, FNB Stadium (Chiefs home)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Before The Derby: The Roots Of Orlando Pirates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To understand the rivalry, start with Orlando Pirates. The club was founded in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto, growing out of the Orlando Boys Club. Boxing instructor Andries \u201cPele Pele\u201d Mkhwanazi encouraged young members to form a football team, and community leader James Mpanza is regarded as a co-founder. The name \u201cOrlando Pirates\u201d was suggested by member Andrew Bassie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the next three decades, Pirates became one of the most popular clubs in black South African football. It was a source of pride in a township shaped by apartheid. One of the young talents to come through the club was Kaizer Motaung, born in Orlando East in 1944. He turned professional with Pirates at just 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3370649592\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How The Rivalry Began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rivalry was born from a split.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1968, Motaung left for the United States to play in the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the Atlanta Chiefs. He was a sensation, scoring 16 goals in 15 matches in his first season to lead the league in scoring. He was voted NASL Rookie of the Year and named in the league\u2019s All-Star team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he came home, he found infighting among the people running Pirates. Instead of returning to the club, he formed his own invitational side, <strong>Kaizer XI<\/strong>, which played friendlies around the country. On <strong>7 January 1970<\/strong>, that team became <strong>Kaizer Chiefs<\/strong>, a name combining Motaung\u2019s first name with that of his American club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several Pirates players followed Motaung to the new club, and many Pirates supporters saw the breakaway as a betrayal. That sense of a family feud, with neighbours, friends and even siblings choosing sides, has fuelled the rivalry ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ALSO READ:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/kaizer-chiefs-celebrates-56-in-gauteng\/\">Kaizer Chiefs Celebrates 56: From Phefeni\u2019s Dusty Grounds To A Global Football Giant Rooted In Gauteng<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The First Soweto Derby: 24 January 1970<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just 17 days after Chiefs were formed, the two clubs met for the first time on <strong>24 January 1970<\/strong>, in a play-off for third place in the Rogue Beer Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirates won a thriller <strong>6-4<\/strong>, according to TimesLIVE\u2019s account of the match. Pirates captain Percy Moloi and Bennet Maja scored two goals each, and a young Ace Ntsoelengoe, who would become the derby\u2019s all-time top scorer, scored a hat-trick for Chiefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first league meetings followed in 1971, and Chiefs won both, 4-3 in April and 2-1 in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3370649592\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two Clubs, One Township<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both clubs have deep roots in Soweto. Pirates\u2019 home is <a href=\"https:\/\/stadiummanagement.co.za\/orlando-stadium\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Orlando Stadium<\/a> in Orlando East, where the club was born. Chiefs started in Soweto too, built a national following, and are now based at Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena, south of Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rivalry splits households and workplaces down the middle, with black and white on one side and gold and black on the other. On derby week, office banter, radio phone-ins and taxi rank debates are all about one thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two clubs also shaped South African football off the field. Motaung and Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza co-founded the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in 1996. The rival club bosses built the professional league that both teams still play in today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Derby Decades: Memorable Matches And Moments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 1970s: A Rivalry Takes Shape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1972:<\/strong> Pirates beat Chiefs 3-2 in the first final of the BP Top Eight, the competition now known as the MTN8. Elias Mokopane scored the winner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1972:<\/strong> Chiefs won 7-3 in one of the highest-scoring derbies on record.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1974:<\/strong> Chiefs were removed from the BP Top Eight after their semifinal against Pirates was abandoned. Chiefs had refused to let Pirates take a late penalty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1975:<\/strong> Chiefs won 5-1. The clubs met eight times that year, the most derbies in a single season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 1980s And 1990s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>May 1985 to November 1988:<\/strong> Chiefs went 11 derbies unbeaten, the longest unbeaten run in the fixture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1990:<\/strong> Pirates won 5-1, matching the biggest winning margin in derby history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1996:<\/strong> Jerry Sikhosana scored a hat-trick in Pirates\u2019 4-1 win, the last derby hat-trick recorded by Business Day in 2018.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 2000s And 2010s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>19 May 2006, ABSA Cup final:<\/strong> the game ended 0-0, and Chiefs won 5-3 on penalties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2007:<\/strong> Mabhuti Khenyeza scored for Chiefs after just 19 seconds in Durban, the fastest goal in derby history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>4 December 2010, Telkom Knockout final:<\/strong> Chiefs won 3-0.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>10 September 2011, MTN8 final:<\/strong> Oupa Manyisa\u2019s 107th-minute long-range strike gave Pirates a 1-0 win after extra time at FNB Stadium.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>20 September 2014, MTN8 final:<\/strong> Chiefs won 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 2020s: Pirates\u2019 Era<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>10 May 2025, Nedbank Cup final:<\/strong> Chiefs beat Pirates 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in front of about 57 000 fans to lift the trophy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>28 February 2026, league:<\/strong> Pirates won 3-0 at FNB Stadium through goals from Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa, and went top of the log.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>26 April 2026, league:<\/strong> the game ended 1-1. Pule Mmodi scored for Chiefs and Kamogelo Sebelebele equalised for Pirates. Kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes because of safety concerns in a packed stadium, and fake tickets were reportedly detected. The draw ended a run of 17 competitive derbies without a draw, stretching back to November 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3370649592\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dark Days: The Derby\u2019s Tragedies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rivalry\u2019s biggest days have also been linked to two of South Africa\u2019s worst sporting disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Orkney, 13 January 1991:<\/strong> 42 people died during a pre-season friendly between Chiefs and Pirates at Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney, North West. Trouble broke out after a disputed goal, and people fleeing were crushed against fencing. About 30 000 people had been admitted to a stadium built for 23 000, and rival fans weren\u2019t separated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ellis Park, 11 April 2001:<\/strong> 43 people died and more than 150 were injured in crushes at a Soweto Derby at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, as people kept entering a stadium that was already well over capacity. It remains South Africa\u2019s worst sporting disaster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FNB Stadium, 29 July 2017:<\/strong> two people died in a stampede outside the stadium before the Carling Black Label Cup match between the two clubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every derby is now treated as a high-risk event, with strict ticketing, crowd control and safety planning. Fans are reminded each time to buy tickets only through official channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soweto Derby Records And Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Head-To-Head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All-time records differ between sources, depending on which matches are counted, such as friendlies, abandoned games and defunct cup competitions. Before the February 2026 derby, TimesLIVE counted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Kaizer Chiefs:<\/strong> 75 wins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Orlando Pirates:<\/strong> 49 wins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draws:<\/strong> 54<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Abandoned:<\/strong> 5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirates have won once and drawn once in the league since then. Over the full history, Chiefs lead the head-to-head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Individual Records<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Most derby goals:<\/strong> Pule \u201cAce\u201d Ntsoelengoe (Chiefs), 19. Nelson \u201cTeenage\u201d Dladla and Abednego \u201cShaka\u201d Ngcobo follow with 11 each.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pirates\u2019 top derby scorer (historically):<\/strong> Jomo Sono, 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Most derby appearances:<\/strong> Happy Jele (Pirates), 33<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fastest goal:<\/strong> Mabhuti Khenyeza (Chiefs), 19 seconds, 2007<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scored in four derbies in a row:<\/strong> Alfred \u201cRussia\u201d Jacobs (1970 to 1971) and Fani Madida (1991 to 1992)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biggest winning margin:<\/strong> four goals. That\u2019s Chiefs 7-3 (1972), Chiefs 5-1 (1975) and Pirates 5-1 (1990).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scored for both clubs in derbies:<\/strong> Gabriel Khoza, Blessing Mgidi, Jerry Sadike, Donald \u201cAce\u201d Khuse, Marks Maponyane and Marc Bachelor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coached both clubs in derbies:<\/strong> Joe Frickleton, Ted Dumitru, Augusto Palacios, Walter da Silva, Kosta Papic and Vladimir Vermezovic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Venues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FNB Stadium, formerly Soccer City, and Orlando Stadium have hosted the most derbies. Modern derbies are almost always played at FNB Stadium, Africa\u2019s biggest football stadium, with about 94 000 seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3370649592\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Modern Era: Pirates On Top<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chiefs dominated much of the rivalry\u2019s history, but recent years have belonged to Pirates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pirates had won <strong>six of seven<\/strong> derbies across all competitions going into April 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They set a club record of <strong>five consecutive league wins<\/strong> over Chiefs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pirates have won the <strong>last four MTN8 titles<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In May 2026, Pirates clinched the <strong>2025\/26 Betway Premiership title<\/strong>, their first league title in 14 years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chiefs, meanwhile, last won the league in 2014\/15. Their 2025 Nedbank Cup final win over Pirates remains their biggest recent derby victory and a big source of hope for Amakhosi fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why The Derby Still Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It\u2019s Gauteng\u2019s biggest sporting event.<\/strong> Derby day brings tens of thousands of fans from across the country to Nasrec, filling hotels, shisanyamas, taverns and taxis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It shapes seasons.<\/strong> Derbies decide cup finals, swing title races and can make or break a coach\u2019s reputation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It\u2019s part of the culture.<\/strong> Songs, jerseys, banter and bragging rights carry on long after the final whistle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It\u2019s a stage for stars.<\/strong> Generations of players, from Ace Ntsoelengoe and Jomo Sono to today\u2019s young talents like Relebohile Mofokeng, have made their names in this fixture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Next Soweto Derby: 31 October 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Date:<\/strong> Saturday, 31 October 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Venue:<\/strong> FNB Stadium, Nasrec<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Home team:<\/strong> Orlando Pirates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tickets:<\/strong> sold out. The 63 680 tickets released to the public sold out within hours of going on sale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Return fixture:<\/strong> Saturday, 13 March 2027, at FNB Stadium, with Kaizer Chiefs at home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Derby Day Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Only use tickets bought through official channels.<\/strong> Fake tickets have been found at recent derbies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Arrive early.<\/strong> Gates and security checks take time with a full stadium.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan your transport<\/strong> to and from Nasrec, including how you\u2019ll get home after the match.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Follow stadium rules<\/strong> and instructions from marshals and police.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3370649592\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Was The First Soweto Derby?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first Soweto Derby was played on 24 January 1970, as a third-place play-off in the Rogue Beer Cup. Pirates won 6-4, according to TimesLIVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Founded Kaizer Chiefs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kaizer Motaung, a former Orlando Pirates player, founded Kaizer Chiefs on 7 January 1970 after returning from playing for the Atlanta Chiefs in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Was Orlando Pirates Founded?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orlando Pirates was founded in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto, growing out of the Orlando Boys Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Has Won More Soweto Derbies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kaizer Chiefs lead the all-time head-to-head. Before February 2026, TimesLIVE counted 75 Chiefs wins, 49 Pirates wins and 54 draws. Pirates have been stronger in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Has Scored The Most Goals In The Soweto Derby?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pule \u201cAce\u201d Ntsoelengoe of Kaizer Chiefs, with 19 derby goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Was The Biggest Win In Soweto Derby History?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest winning margin is four goals: Chiefs won 7-3 in 1972 and 5-1 in 1975, and Pirates won 5-1 in 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happened At Ellis Park In 2001?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 11 April 2001, 43 people died and more than 150 were injured in crushes at a Soweto Derby at Ellis Park. It remains South Africa\u2019s worst sporting disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Is The Next Soweto Derby?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next derby is on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at FNB Stadium, with the return league fixture on 13 March 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 31 October 2026, the stands will be packed for a rivalry that has defined South African football for more than 55 years. The 63 680 tickets released to the public sold out within hours. The Soweto Derby is more than a match. It\u2019s a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":43574,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"Soweto Derby,Kaizer Chiefs,Orlando Pirates,Kaizer Motaung,South African Football,FNB Stadium,PSL,Football History","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"From Kaizer Motaung\u2019s split with Pirates to sold-out FNB Stadium clashes, here\u2019s how the Soweto Derby became SA\u2019s biggest football rivalry.","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[275,273,1076],"ppma_author":[11567],"class_list":["post-43573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-kaizer-chiefs","tag-orlando-pirates","tag-soweto-derby"],"authors":[{"term_id":11567,"user_id":7,"is_guest":0,"slug":"makhosazane","display_name":"Makhosazane","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/08ae8e4b9b86dbda0979f667ab20cfeaa3877eb672acde59c0901ed43e1c05ab?s=96&r=g","author_category":"1","first_name":"Makhosazane","last_name":"Jiyane","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":"As an SEO Content Editor with a background in journalism and digital media, I have a passion for crafting high-quality, engaging, and informative content that connects with audiences and ranks on search engines. I believe in the power of storytelling, data-driven insights, and digital innovation to transform how information is shared and consumed. Through my work, I strive to make a meaningful impact - one article at a time."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43573"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43575,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43573\/revisions\/43575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43573"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=43573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}