Cavin Johnson’s baptism of fire in Dogfight match
Crucial three points and bragging rights are at stake in the famous Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Cavin Johnson will have a baptism of fire as Kaizer Chiefs head coach on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
This is when he comes face-to-face with arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in his introductory Soweto derby match that is being touted as a dogfight as both teams have assumed a strugglers tag in the 2023/24 season of the DStv Premiership.
Both teams have so far played 11 matches of the season Chiefs lie seventh on the log and the Buccaneers occupy the 10th spot. AmaKhosi has just won four games, drawn two and lost five, with the Bucs only winning, losing and drawing three matches in all three categories.
They have respectively amassed 14 and 12 points. At the same time, their nemesis, Mamelodi Sundowns, is on course for a record 7th league title in a row with 24 points from eight games with no draw or loss and has three games in hand due to its participation in the Caf Champions League and newly launched African Football League by Caf.
At the derby press conference, Johnson said he may be a new kid on the derby block but was determined to make his presence noticed. “The advantage with such a derby is that players need no motivation as the magnitude of the game is self-motivating as three crucial points are at stake for both teams, including bragging rights,” Johnson said.
Captain goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune echoed his coach’s words, saying players need no motivation for a derby as ‘we all know what to expect and that which is expected of us and what we are expected to do on the field on the day – to bring the three points home’.
“If I could call God, I would ask him to privilege me with the score of the game but unfortunately the one I have tried is constantly engaged. I can assure fans to come in their numbers and witness a scintillating game,” Johnson added.
His Buccaneers counterpart, Jose ‘Spanish Guiter’ Riveiro said he expected his players to put on a good showing come Saturday. “We [both] come from triumphant midweek matches and the mood of the players is good and supporters can look forward to a dogfight,” Riveiro said.
His defender Thapelo Xoki said his fellow players were ready for the derby to collect three points at stake which go together with the bragging rights. “This is what I am promising the fans and mark my words after the ninety minutes of pitch work,” Xoki added.
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