Warning to Chiefs? Sibisi makes firm Soweto Derby stance for Pirates

Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has issued a strong message to his teammates ahead of the upcoming Soweto Derby which the Buccaneers will host.

Pirates will welcome Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, April 26 looking for a double over their rivals after hammering them 3-0 in February.

The match has a lot at stake as Pirates must win to stay in the title race while Chiefs need victory to firm up their third place which will come with a ticket to next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Sibisi understands fully well the importance of the match and has issued a rallying call to his teammates, calling it “a game of consequences.”

Sibisi issues rallying call to Pirates

“For us as players, the mentality has to be spot-on because it’s not your normal game, and it’s a game of consequences. We know we have to deliver,” said Sibisi as quoted by FARPost. “For us, it is just to get the mentality in the right space and be in the right space to play that game.”

The Pirates captain is also aware that Chiefs have been in great form, winning five of their last six before their goalless draw against Polokwane City last weekend, but is confident that his colleagues will cope with the threats of the Glamour Boys.

“I think for us, just like in life, we suffer setbacks. You mentioned the draws we played against Siwelele and Richards Bay, but it’s how you move forward, how you pick yourselves up, that is important,” added Sibisi.

Should Chiefs’ form worry the Bucs?

“I think the boys showed character to say after the game against Siwelele, we won [6-0] against TS Galaxy and kept a clean sheet. We suffered a setback against Richards Bay recently, but we also picked ourselves up again.

“That’s the kind of mentality and attitude that the boys are showing throughout the season, and I think with this kind of mentality, surely something has to give.”

Pirates have beaten Chiefs in their last five league meetings while they have seven wins out of 10 over the Glamour Boys, who defeated them in the Nedbank Cup final last May, making up for a fascinating encounter at FNB Stadium on Sunday.