Waves of fans poured into the FNB Stadium in Soweto,
Johannesburg, in regalia rivalling the world’s most jubilant festivals, to
watch South Africa’s biggest Premier Soccer League teams Orlando Pirates and
Kaizer Chiefs clash it out for the Soweto Derby. 



The stadium, also known as The Calabash and home to the
Chiefs, seats 87,436 fans and rumbled with vuvuzelas and unbridled euphoria.
The Soweto Derby is one of the most fiercely-contested matches in African football.
Between the two rivals, there have been 163 past derbies‚ and of that, 67 won
by Chiefs and 39 by Pirates. 



However, it would seem that Pirates are making inroads to
close the gap. Chiefs have not managed to claim a victory against Pirates since
2015; the equivalent of 12 matches and 1,496 long days. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/sport/2018/10/04/unequal-pay-for-equal-play/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Unequal Pay for Equal Play (opens in a new tab)">Unequal Pay for Equal Play</a>



In this image, fans wear the traditional team colors; gold
and black for Chiefs, black and white for Pirates. They wait with bated breath
and watch the players who will control the course of their destiny – for at
least the next 90 minutes. 



The whistle blows and the stadium roars in anticipation.
This is an event that spectators and organizers alike bank on. 



“Just out of this event, we are looking at just over R30 million ($2.2 million) contribution to the local economy. We are talking sales from a granny selling pap and vleis, to the guy selling merchandise and the guys helping to park cars. That’s what sports does,” says Barba Gaoganediwe, Head: Destination Promotions and Marketing for Gauteng Tourism. 



Unfortunately, the match ends in a draw and neither side is
pleased as they disappear into the changing rooms to plot the defeat of the
other side for when they meet next.

soccer

The Million Dollar Game

Almost two decades ago, a group of talented football players became known as the golden generation of South African soccer.  In 2013, Orlando Pirates, one of Africa’s oldest football clubs, is looking to recapture the championship of the continent. The Soweto club is still the only South African team to have ever won the competition. Eighteen years on, the club is making progress. They have just qualified for the group stages of the tournament following a drama-filled encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe. The first leg of the encounter at Soccer City, Johannesburg, ended with Pirates hammering Mazembe 3-1. The return leg in Kinshasa was a hostile game which Mazembe won by a goal to nil.
Before the match, police detained two South African journalists who ended up missing the game. Mazembe denied any involvement and said the problems with the broadcasting of the match was due to a technical problem at the station.
“It must be stated that we are a law-abiding club that believes in fair play. All the international journalists that traveled for the match, and were duly accredited, were ushered into the press tribune where they covered the match unhampered. The media reports that journalists from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were arrested after the match are totally unfounded and false,” says Mazembe team president, Moise Katumbi-Chapwe.
On the pitch, Pirate’s players told a different story upon their arrival in the country. They complained that the calls on the pitch were not going the Buccaneers’ way. On top of this, their captain, Lucky Lekgwathi, was sent off in the first half. Two dubious penalties were awarded to Mazembe. Pirates’ hero on the day was goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, who saved the two penalties.
“The treatment in terms of food, accommodation and other things was okay. The only problem was on the field. The refereeing was poor and Lucky Lekgwathi did not deserve the red card. However, a fighting spirit kept us in the game,” Meyiwa told Kick Off magazine.
Their road in this year’s competition has been made even harder following the draw for the group stages. The draw for the 2013 CAF Champions League Group stages was conducted at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Pirates are in Group A, alongside AC Leopards (DRC), Zamalek (Egypt) and Al-Ahly (Egypt). Group B comprises of Recreativo Libolo (Angola), Esperance (Tunisia), Sewe Sport (Ivory Coast) and Coton Sport (Cameroon).
The group stages consist of eight teams divided into two groups. Each team, in their respective group, will play each other twice, in a home and away leg. The top two sides from each group will then qualify for the semi-finals.
It has been a rough ride for the Pirates’ players following in the footsteps of the golden generation of 1995. It was the year Pirates earned a gold star above their badge. Pirates drew two all at FNB Stadium, now known as Soccer City, in Johannesburg against ASEC Mimosa of Côte d’Ivoire. In the second leg in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, two weeks later, it looked like the Buccaneers—as Orlando Pirates are affectionately known—would lose the title on away goals but then, a moment of brilliance.
Defender Mark Fish cleared from deep in defence to Jerry ‘Legs of Thunder’ Sikhosana, who danced around two defenders before slotting the ball in the net. The goal sparked national celebrations akin to those of the release of former South African president, Nelson Mandela.
The captain of the 1996 Afcon winning team, Neil Tovey, summed it up best in his blog when he said: “I may have captained Chiefs from 1992 to 1999, but I will always give credit where it’s due. I believe triumphs like these bring the country closer together. The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations’ winning squad certainly fed off Pirates’ Champions League success in 1995.”
The Pirates team that made South Africa proud 18 years ago consisted of a number of quality players that were regarded as the best. The likes of goalkeeper Williams Okpara, Edward Motale, Mark Fish, Gavin Lane, John Moeti, Helman Mkhalele and Jerry Sikhosana made the world take notice of the force that was to be South African football.
The ‘sea robbers’ are hoping to add another star to their emblem. The treatment of the 2013 team hasn’t changed much from what the 1995 team received. The Pirates’ conquering team also went through a few hostile situations.
Former player turned football analyst Helman Mkhalele says the troubles against Mazembe brought back memories.
“What the team went through was horrible. It gives football on the continent a negative image, both on the field and administratively. We, as Africans want to win the World Cup one day but with such acts, we can forget it. When we reflect on the hurdles we overcame to win the title, they are similar to what they are going through. The experience taught me, personally, how to be stronger mentally, physically and wiser as a person. It also taught me how to handle tough situations and how to focus as a player to express myself,” says Mkhalele.
Former goalkeeper, Williams Okpara, who signed for Pirates from ACB in Nigeria, in 1994, remembers it as if it were yesterday.
“Looking at the current Pirates team, we have many good players who can do the job for the team. I was very impressed with Pirates’ performance against Djabal and also when we beat Zanaco away from home. The conditions in Zambia were not comforting because the pitch had long grass. It is good that Pirates players went all out showing great character and we won the game,” says Okpara.
Since Pirates’ won the trophy, South African football has suffered a lean spell. No South African team has managed to win the title. Mamelodi Sundowns managed to reach the finals in 2001 but lost to Egypt’s Al-Ahly.
Bafana Bafana has also struggled to make an impact in international competition. They were knocked out of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in the group stages, the worst performance ever by a host country.
Whether or not the future of South African football teams will be a bright one, will depend on how they do on the continent. What better way to do it than with the CAF Champions League. South African players will be used to the tough playing environment and this will in turn benefit the national team.

Come Back, The Golden Days

South Africa lives and breathes football. Like oxygen, money is being pumped into the game in the form of prize money.
South African bank Absa renewed its sponsorship of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for the next five years. The Absa Premiership is the richest sport competition in Africa, with R16 million ($1.9 million) up for grabs.
The current season will be different from previous seasons as it will be divided into four quarters, to be called the Q-innovation—the first of its kind in the world. As there are 16 teams in the PSL, each team will play 30 games throughout the season. The four quarters will alternate between seven and eight games, beginning with seven games in the first quarter. The winning team of each quarter will win R1.5 million ($182,600). The overall winner of the Absa Premiership will win R10 million ($1.2 million)—this means that there is a possibility of one team winning up to R16 million in a season. A bonanza for even the wealthiest of clubs.
Irvin Khoza—known in football circles as the Iron Duke—is chairman of the PSL and of the reigning league champions, Orlando Pirates. He is delighted with the renewal of the Absa sponsorship as well as the extra prize money.
“At the PSL, we are very excited with the Absa sponsorship and the new innovation that we have come up with,” he says.
“The prize money is very encouraging and surely it will help improve the standard of our football. When you look at our fixtures these days there is no game that is predictable because anything is possible in terms of the results. So it is going to be a very interesting season whereby all the teams that are competing in the PSL will be determined to do well from the beginning. We have very passionate supporters and fans who follow the progress of the PSL and we hope they will enjoy the quality football that the teams will be displaying on the field of play.”
MTN, the African cellphone giant, has also shown confidence in the PSL and has renewed their sponsorship for the next three years meaning that the MTN 8, with its popular slogan ‘Wafa Wafa’, will continue. The- winner-takes-it-all competition is one of the most-fascinating knockout cup competitions whereby, after merely four games, the champions win R8 million ($969,700).
MTN South Africa chief marketing officer, Serame Taukobong, is content that after a very successful four years of partnership with the PSL, which has benefited South African football, they will continue to invest in local football development and upcoming football stars.
“The MTN 8 is unique and is a very interesting competition that many people follow, hence we are so pleased that our partnership with PSL continues. It is even more exciting because we have the competition for the fans whereby they also have the opportunity to win some great prizes. We are looking forward to celebrating many more milestones in this MTN 8 exciting cup competition,” says Taukobong.
This season the football fans have shown great interest in attending the MTN 8 games—whether it’s the inexperienced or seasoned teams playing—crowds have been impressive. As the MTN 8 cup competition happens during the early stages of the season it showcases each team’s new players.
MTN was involved in bringing the world famous Manchester United to South Africa during their pre-season tour friendly games against Amazulu and Ajax Cape Town. By the way, if you need an example of how much money really is in football, Manchester United—the most valuable sporting brand in the world—is worth $2.23 billion. The fact that the two small PSL sides could compete on the same level as the nineteen-times English champions is a clear indication that the standard of football in South Africa has shown signs of improvement. Players across Africa show great interest in plying their trade in South Africa because of the magnificent stadium facilities and high salaries. Some top players in the PSL—who play for the big teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns—earn more than some of the overseas players. These top earners include: Sundowns captain Teko Modise; Pirates striker Benedict McCarthy and Chiefs forward Bernard Parker.
The Telkom knockout cup is another competition in the PSL, which attracts interest, especially due to the R4.2 million ($511,000) prize money and the awards presented to individual players. What is encouraging for football in Africa is that the Nedbank Cup allows small teams from the lower divisions to participate, in what sometimes turns into a David-and-Goliath showdown for the R6 million ($729,600) prize money.
SuperSport, the satellite television channel which broadcasts across the continent, has been granted the television rights worth around R2 billion ($243.3 million) to broadcast the games live. Football clubs benefit greatly from these television rights because they get the grant from the PSL which helps them with funding. They can prepare for games properly, afford to stay in five-star hotels; travel on expensive flights, hire reputable coaches and pay good salaries to their players.
It appears failure is no barrier to the flood of cash into the South African game. The national team, Bafana Bafana, has performed poorly in recent games. The team failed to qualify for the last African Cup of Nations and struggled in the qualifying games of the World Cup against weak teams such as Ethiopia and Botswana.
Despite its lukewarm game, Bafana Bafana got a large financial boost from SABMiller, the owner of Castle Lager, which renewed its sponsorship of R100 million ($12.1 million) for the next five years.
The FIFA 2010 Football World Cup was a big success in South Africa when it comes to the organization of the event. The legacy continues as more and more investment pours into the country. Furthermore, South Africa will benefit for decades to come from its world-class stadium facilities and infrastructure which was built for the championships.
In the 1960s, Orlando Pirates used to travel hundreds of kilometers from Johannesburg to Durban on the back of an open truck. Now, they could afford to fly in private jets and the money, despite the recession, appears as likely as the Indian Ocean to dry up.

Football is Money in Africa

When you first meet him, you wonder how a Peruvian, who struggles with his English, can get his message across to his squad of players. When he is out on the field in training, all you can make out is the exaggerated gestures and loud, booming voice. To the observer, it seems like a man under pressure, with a fiery temper, who is not quite sure what he is doing.
Think again. There is one thing Augusto Palacios is fluent in and that is football.
His first language is football and he turned around a team in turmoil to become the champions of the South African Premier Soccer League.
When Palacios took over the reins at (South African football club) Orlando Pirates it was after the sacking of Júlio César Leal in March, as the defending league champions began to languish four points behind a strong Mamelodi Sundowns team. Despite a 3-0 thumping at the hands of a lowly Santos side, in his first game in charge, plus a 2-1 home defeat to Free State Stars 10 days later, Palacios systematically worked his way to the top of the table.
The 60-year-old former striker began his career as a coach in 1981 and moved to South Africa to take charge of the Witbank Black Aces in 1983. Nearly three decades later, the technical director of development at the Buccaneers stepped up to lead the Orlando Pirates team to the title.
“Coming in, in the middle of the season and entrusted with the task of defending the league at all costs, was a task that I had to undertake knowing that I could not afford to make it go wrong,” says Palacios.
“Coaching Orlando Pirates last season, under the circumstances the team was in, was with no shadow of a doubt to me the highest point of my professional coaching career. Since my arrival in the country and after I decided to get into coaching, the first thing I endeavored to do was to understand how local players think. It might seem simple, but players in every part of the world think differently.”
Palacios also offers great insight into the South African game like few others can, added to his typical short and to-the-point assessments.
“People are wrong about South African footballers; they think they don’t have skill. Normally, it’s the right combination of skill and technique… I tell the players in training, ‘no lose the ball, no lose the ball—pass to the player who is closest to you and play it safe.’ Something I don’t understand and I always correlate to the players; how it is possible you can lose the ball when there’s no life in the ball. It’s immaterial—I don’t understand how you can make the wrong pass. You are human beings who have brains, you train for this but then you make the wrong pass.”
His strong words have an effect on his charges, but to the crowd, he was not always hailed a hero this season.
Under Leal, Pirates supporters would bay for substitutions and the-then coach would often succumb to the will of the spectators. Palacios, however, adopts a contrasting approach.
“I think from when I came to South Africa I know the habits of the supporters. The supporters can’t make changes for me. The supporters can’t make substitutes for me—never. One thing I cannot do is to let the supporters coach. The supporters don’t make me make the substitutions, but they are not stupid—they can see if a player is missing chances and they see it as a habit.”
Pirate’s fans thought Palacios was merely a good caretaker coach, but have been won over by the successful championship defense.
“I heard Palacios [talking to] Robert Marawa on radio on the last Thursday of the season. They asked him about his coaching tactics and he said after he lost to Santos and to Free State Stars, the average coach would have taken the players back to more physical training, but he took them far away from football and they had fun. When they came back to training they were told they could have any position in the team for that session. So Benni McCarthy went from striker to goalkeeper and the two center backs went [on] to be strikers. Voila, on the last day of the season the people who changed positions all scored to win us the title… That’s genius,” says Toto ‘AngelHeart’ Mothopeng, who has supported the Pirates since 1986.
One of the Peruvian’s old assistants, former Bafana Bafana captain, Steve Komphela, has worked with Pirates tactician for years.
“Augusto introduced me to captaincy in the national team. Augusto molded me as a center back. We used to have our moments of fighting and all that and I’m very close to his family. To me it is more than standing next to the master, or someone who taught you the trade; it’s more like standing next to your mentor and your father,” says Komphela.
The wily Palacios was confirmed by the club at the end of May as coach on a one-year contract.
“Football is my passion and I cannot see myself doing something else away from this game. I remember the first game I sat on the bench against Santos, I met some of my former players and friends, who are now coaching in the Premiership. Those were emotional moments for me—every time we would play a certain team, I would always meet a former player, whom I coached before or played against.”
Palacios has made a rapid transformation, from the under-the-radar youth director, to the guiding spirit of the Soweto giant—one of the biggest clubs in Africa. In this uncertain world where clubs are turfing out coaches on a whim, Pirates would best be advised to hang on to Palacios as long as they can.

Tag: Orlando Pirates

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

The Million Dollar Game

Come Back, The Golden Days

Football is Money in Africa

The Pirate King