Benoni football derby will be as emotive and explosive as always

There’s no football game like it on the planet.

BNFC coach Jannie van den Berg and Old Bens coach Raymond Cloete.

It’s the famous Benoni football derby, played between near neighbours and arch rivals Benoni Northerns and Old Bens football clubs.

The second Benoni Derby of the 2017 Eastern Local Football Association (ELFA) season will be played at Old Bens’ Currin Park home on Saturday, September 9.

Old Bens’ coach Raymond Cloete (right) will be hoping for a repeat of his first XI’s 3-1 victory over Jannie van den Berg’s (left) Northerns team at Northern Areas on May 27.

The first sides will clash at 3.30pm with the reserve teams opening proceedings at 1.45pm.

As always, a packed house is expected.

Like City Times sports journalist Logan Green said in a blog post last year: “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.

“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), as usual, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning as this classic club football rivalry returns for the Super League fixture.

“Keep your Madrid, Manchester, Merseyside or Soweto derbies!

“This is a fierce rivalry as never-ending as receiving an an e-toll account.

“This is the Benoni Derby and anything can happen!

“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.

“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.

“Let’s move back to the people who make the Benoni Derby what it is – the spectators.”

Bring the children, a jumping castle, inflatable foosball and colour fest are some of the fun things to do.

Come down, support and have a guaranteed fun-filled day.

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