Daily Sun (March 6 2015) - FOR TWO golden hours tomorrow afternoon, all South Africa will come to a standstill.
And nothing the president, or Julius, or Helen, or even Kelly, or the naked pastor can do will change that.
AYEYE! IT'S DERBY DAY!
And this one is extra special. It's the Chiefs vs Pirates derby that Mzansi has been waiting for since December, when Amakhosi beat the Bucs 2-0 with goals from Siphiwe "Shabba" Tshabalala and Siphelele Mthembu.
More than 90 000 fans will be at FNB Stadium, while taverns and shebeens will be packed with fans glued to TV sets when the two Absa Premiership giants lock horns at 3.30pm.
The Bucs faithful have been baying for Chiefs' scalp for the better part of last year without any success since they've lost to the Naturena lads in the MTN8 final and towards the end of the 2013-14 season, when they lost 1-0.
The only time that Bucs managed to beat Chiefs last year was in the Carling Black Label Cup, when they won 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw.
Daily Sun's BILLY COOPER and SISA MAJOLA give us their views on what to
expect tomorrow.
Amakhosi are going to crack it
By Billy Cooper
KAIZER Chiefs have the potential to win tomorrow's Soweto derby at FNB Stadium (3.30pm) against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates and take a giant step towards clinching the Absa Premiership title.
There are numerous reasons why Amakhosi are likely to crack this one and take a 13 point lead at the summit of the Premiership table.
They have a more experienced, settled side and credible coach in Stuart Baxter, who won the league and cup double two years ago.
Baxter will not make the same mistakes he made last season when Amakhosi lost the title (to Mamelodi Sundowns) after leading most of the season. Baxter said this week that form goes out of the window in the derby: "The derby takes on a life of its own."
Pirates are slowly recovering from the tragic death of skipper and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in October and the resignation in December of unpopular coach Vladimir "VV" Vermezovic.
Chiefs have won the last two league derbies and there is the Itumeleng Khune factor for Chiefs.
Baxter is not afraid to make a big decision on playing his best keeper. Baxter has dropped talented but less experienced Brilliant Khuzwayo, who shone when Khune was injured, and will field fans favourite Khune, who has been an inspirational captain for Amakhosi over the years, especially in these tight derbies.
Khune is back with a bang. He has showed his class in
helping Chiefs beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at the same venue on Wednesday night.
Khune is arguably Mzansi's best goalkeeper. He is also the man with Big Match Temperament. Chiefs are stronger in midfielder where Willard Kasande and veteran workhorse
Reneilwe "Yeye" Letsholonyane will anchor the engineroom.
Chiefs biggest weakness is their
attack, since they lost striker Kingston Nkhatha to SuperSport United.
This is where Baxter has to make the right call.
Sea Robbers will turn things around
By Sisa Majola
THOSE who are writing off Orlando Pirates ahead of tomorrow's Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium are doing so at their
peril.
Bucs fans are poised to ululate and blow their vuvuzelas proudly tomorrow on their way to the parking lots when the highly anticipated Absa Premiership clash is over.
Chiefs might be the flavour of the moment but form in the Soweto derby is not a big factor.
The Ghost should not concern themselves about previous results either in the country's biggest sporting showdown.
It's a fact that Chiefs have won their past three derbies - including the 2-0 win in the first round in December.
But this is the moment that the Sea Robbers will turn things around and earn bragging rights.
As history has shown, Chiefs are under pressure as they were this time last season in their meltdown which saw them lose the league title.
But a fighting spirit and Big Match Temperament is in the Pirates' genes.
Chiefs do well as a collective but it's Bucs who always carry the "X-factor" players, as they proved the last time they beat Amakhosi in the league in 2012, when Benni McCarthy netted a brace in the 3-2 win.
The big "X" this time is Lehlohonolo Majoro, the one-time Amakhosi striker with a penchant for match-winning performances.
Majoro has eight goals this season and is coach Eric Tinkler's trump card.
He returns after serving a two-match suspension.
The 28-year-old has proved time and again that he has the ability to spring Bucs to life.
Tinkler definitely had an ace up his sleeve when he opted not to play him in the 1-1 draw with Free State Stars on Wednesday.
Now watch Majoro unleashed!
And there is also Kermit Erasmus, who might be a surprise package, considering Tinkler's plans.
See the Daily Sun's new website for more on this and other stories....
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