Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge match was called off due to bad weather denying fans an opportunity to watch the highly anticipated Soweto derby.
The match was initially set to be played at 15.00 on Sunday but was delayed a number of times before a decision was made at 15:45 to call it off due to inclement weather.
According to Match Commissioner Patrick Marametsi, bad lighting contributed to the decision to abandon the match which was to be played at the Dobsonville Stadium.
“We looked at the radius again, it was just under 2km,” Marametsi told SuperSport TV.
Poor lighting denied fans Soweto derby action
“And you can see this cloud is really above us which poses a safety risk, and I’ve actually had a discussion with the referee, and he said he is going to abandon this match due to the lightning which is not subsiding at all. Just above us, it’s unfortunate. This is Mother nature.”
There was huge anticipation among fans ahead of the match, the first installment of the Soweto derby this season, with Chiefs looking to maintain their chase for top spot as Pirates sought to make it back-to-back wins.
The match will now be rescheduled to a later date but Chiefs now find themselves third on the table with 23 points, three behind leaders Stellenbosch, but with two games in hand. Pirates, meanwhile, are seventh on the log on 19 points from 11 games.
