Soweto Derby fever has hit South Africa once again as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates prepare to do battle, and some of the main characters were in the same room on Wednesday...
Check out some images from inside today's press conference in the gallery above!
Lebogang Manyama, Khama Billiat, Fortune Makaringe, Innocent Maela and both coaches, Ernst Middendorp and Rulani Mokwena, were all in attendance in Killarney this afternoon ahead of Saturday's bumper clash, and the Premier Soccer League shared some of their thoughts going into the game.
Lebogang Manyama - Chiefs:
#AbsaPrem #SowetoDerby
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) November 7, 2019
Lebogang Manyama: "They had a better first half last week but we are not worried. We will work on it with the coach and make sure we are ready come Saturday."
#AbsaPrem #SowetoDerby
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) November 7, 2019
Lebogang Manyama: "This is one game every player grows up dreaming of playing in. It has to be an exciting match. We need to reward the people who go out to support us."
Fortune Makaringe - Pirates: #AbsaPrem #SowetoDerby
Fortune Makaringe: "It is a very big game and we need to be focused. I also dreamt of playing in this fixture fir Orlando Pirates when I was young."
Rulani Mokwena - Pirates: #AbsaPrem #SowetoDerby
Rulani Mokwena: "We defend as a unit. We defend from the front. I wouldn't agree that we have a shaky defence."
Innocent Maela - Pirates:
#AbsaPrem #SowetoDerby
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) November 7, 2019
Innocent Maela: "We must not focus on the occasion and forget to play the Match. The focus should be on the Match and not the occasion."
Chiefs may have gotten a penalty shootout victory over their rivals last weekend when they met in the Telkom Knockout, but it's been five years since they were able to beat them in the Absa Premiership, something that will no doubt be playing on their minds.
Read: In From The Cold – Lifelines For These Chiefs Stars?
Now is probably as good a time as any for the Glamour Boys as they go into the tie flying high against a Buccaneers side struggling for form, but - as everyone involved will know - form often goes out of the window when it comes to games like this one.
Do you think Chiefs can end their barren run against Pirates tomorrow night?
