BLOG: Why we love the Benoni Derby, bru
Logan Green, sports journalist, writes:
It’s as Benonian as the falling leaves from the Pin Oak trees of Webb Street in winter.
As Benonian as Brian Mitchell with a mullet eating a Benoni High School tuck shop salad roll atop the Kleinfontein Mine Dump saying “heavy, boet”.
It’s the world famous “Benoni Derby” and it’s back this weekend!
The legendary Benoni football derby, played between the first teams of Old Bens and Benoni Northerns football clubs (don’t forget the curtain-raising reserve team clash either), will take place this Saturday and, as usual, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning as this classic club football rivalry returns for the reverse 2016 ELFA Super League fixture.
Keep your Madrid, Manchester, Merseyside or Soweto derbies!
This is a fierce rivalry as never-ending as the construction at the Northmead Square.
This is the Benoni Derby and anything can happen, my cuz!
This time the derby will take place at Old Benonians Sports Club when the red-clad Benoni Northerns men make the “arduous” two or so kilometre trek to Currin Park for a face-off with the gold and black jerseys of Old Bens.
With Northerns going a single point ahead of their neighbours after this past weekend’s 2-0 win over table-topping Luso Africa it is all set-up to be a fiery, red-hot atmosphere.
An intense environment will take place not only on the Currin Park pitch, but in the stands as well where the mixture of lifelong club allegiances, outright passion and alcoholic beverages makes for some interesting happenings and often shocking yet mostly hilarious comments from the chirpy Benonians on the sidelines.
Although both teams will probably not finish in the Top Three of the Super League it will not detract from the display of quality amateur club football (we hope!).
Speaking about the football, this is one match that always proves tough to call.
It is a derby after all.
Expect the referee to be brandishing a couple of red cards for reckless challenges and some choice words.
In the history of derbies that I covered as the Benoni City Times’ sports journalist, since my first one back in February 2014, it has been Northerns who have dominated results (admittedly, I have only had the opportunity to cover one derby match at Old Bens’ Currin Park home base, home-ground advantage and all that jazz).
I have witnessed several other of these clashes in the past during my time as a non-sports journo, but, unfortunately, I do not have those statistics at my disposal.
My history of reporting on Benoni derbies to date looks like this:
• DATE: February 7, 2014. MATCH TYPE: “The Benoni Shield” (pre-season match). VENUE: Benoni Northerns. RESULT: 3-2 to Northerns. REPORT: FEB 2014
• DATE: April 22, 2015. MATCH TYPE: ELFA Super Cup (first round). VENUE: Benoni Northerns. RESULT: 4-1 to Northerns. REPORT: APR 2015
• DATE: May 30, 2015. MATCH TYPE: ELFA Super League (first fixture). VENUE: Benoni Northerns. RESULT: 3-2 to Northerns. REPORT: MAY 2015
• DATE: September 12, 2015. MATCH TYPE: ELFA Super League (reverse fixture). VENUE: Old Bens. RESULT: 1-1 draw. REPORT: SEPT 2015
• DATE: May 21, 2016. MATCH TYPE: ELFA Super League (first fixture). VENUE: Benoni Northerns. RESULT: 1-0 to Northerns. REPORT: MAY 2016
Coaches Jannie van den Berg (Northerns) and Raymond Cloete (Old Bens) have a lot of respect for each other and have played the game together too.
Both have told me that they will treat the derby just like any other game and strive for the three points.
Van den Berg will be backing some of the youthful prospects who have done him well in recent weeks, but, will their lack of derby experience be too much pressure to handle?
Or, will youthful exuberance be the deciding factor?
It is that same old cliché again: “It remains to be seen”.
The Northerns shot-caller will also rely heavily on the seasoned campaigners in his team such as his skipper Wade Marshall and play-making midfielder Joel Nchableng.
Cloete, on the other side of the coin, has some experienced figures in his camp too and will be hoping that his Bens players find good and solid communication and rhythm.
From matches that I have seen this season when this team gels well, retains possession of the ball for long period and finds a passing groove then they are extremely difficult to overcome.
My players to watch on Saturday?
Tricky, goal-hungry striker Lesiba Modau for Old Bens and Northerns’ dead-ball specialist Keegan Frawley.
If you don’t know about Frawley’s set-piece talents then this video taken by Neil Chard at the recent Super League game between Benoni Northerns and Highlands Park will surely enlighten you:
Now, let’s move back to the people who make the Benoni Derby what it is – the spectators.
If things are going well for the team in red then you will certainly hear the loud singing voices of the “Northerns Quartet” who just love to belt out their infamous chant about hating their neighbours.
It’s harsh, but this is football.
This is Benoni!
Perhaps the Old Bens faithful will sing the final tune.
“It remains to be seen”.
There have also been some peculiar sightings (and excuse the French in the clip below) like this one that was sent to me after the previous derby.
Haha, only in Benoni.
Anyway, another cool thing about the Benoni Derby is that you will probably spot my ugly mug there.
So, If you do see me please do come say howzit (Oh, and Castle Lite is the poison… hint, hint)!
Check you at Old Benonians, Benonians!
The reserve teams will open proceedings at 1.45pm followed by the first team clash at 3.30pm.
* Please note that this is an opinion piece and that the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Benoni City Times or Caxton Newspapers.
Check out some other blogs from this writer:
Transformation in sport? Get real!
Things I learned in the Kingdom of the Zulu and at Comrades (by a guy who didn’t run the Comrades)
Things I learned in the Fair Cape
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