Soweto derby: Five stars who could save Chiefs’ day against Pirates

Kaizer Chiefs are set to face their old rivals, Orlando Pirates, in the Premier Soccer League’s Soweto derby on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.

This is a massive game for the Glamour Boys, who are desperate to bounce back from back-to-back losses. As a matter of fact, Amakhosi have fallen three times in the last four outings across all competitions.

A month ago, Chiefs were chasing a treble – Nedbank Cup, CAF Confederation Cup, and the Premier Soccer League. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks later, they are now desperate to win the PSL after being eliminated from the first two competitions.

Next Kaizer Chiefs Match!

🏆#BetwayPrem
⚽️Kaizer Chiefs vs. Orlando Pirates
👕First Team
🗓️Saturday 28 February 2026
🏟FNB Stadium
🕞15h30
📺SuperSport 202, SABC 1
🎟SOLD OUT!
👨‍👨‍👦Family Zone
🚗Toyota Zone
📢Please come early!!#Amakhosi4Life #SowetoDerby #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/LIWsHZcser

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) February 26, 2026

A win this weekend will reduce the gap between the teams to just five points, but a loss will see it widen to 11 and further lower their chances of winning the South African top-tier crown.

Have a look at five players who can help the Glamour Boys to silence Bucs and sustain their chances of getting crowned.

Brandon Petersen

The 31-year-old has established himsef as the undoubted first-choice custodian at the club, beating Bruce Bvuma and Fiacre Ntwari to the position. He has rarely missed games this season; in 27 outings, he has managed to keep 15 clean sheets.

Petersen has 11 clean sheets in 16 Premier Soccer League fixtures, just one less than his compatriot Sipho Chaine who will be in goal for Bucs on Saturday. The South Africa international has to command his area effectively.

Zitha Kwinika

When the season started, the 32-year-old was seen as surplus to requirements as the technical team favoured the Inacio Miguel – Aden McCarthy partnership. However, injury to the duo was a blessing in disguise for the versatile defender who is now a vital player for Chiefs.

He has missed just four PSL games since then, and in total Kwinika has 23 appearances for the Glamour Boys with a goal to his name. It will be vital for him to ensure his defence doesn’t leak.

Lebohang Maboe

The former Mamelodi Sundowns player is another beneficiary of injuries suffered by Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Thabo Cele who are playing in the same position. He came in to provide experience in midfield and so far, he has been the main man especially in the last cuple of games.

The 31-year-old has an assist in 13 games played so far, and with Mthethwa and Cele still working on their fitness leveles, Maboe is almost guaranteed a place on Saturday agaisnt Pirates.

Ethan Chislett

How one game can make a difference! The 27-year-old shone in his debut against Stellenbosch in the midweek outing that, unfortunately for him, ended in a 2-1 defeat.

However, the versatile creative midfielder had already proved he deserved to be involved regularly by the technical team. It also rose many questions on why the Glamour Boys took so long to introduce him with the massive quality displayed against Stellies. He is odds on to start against Bucs.

Flavio Silva

The 29-year-old is seemingly the main man now in attack owing to his comiitment on the pitch. He has seven goals in 19 matches in all competitions; five of those strikes have come in 10 league outings.

Just like a couple of his teammates, this will be his first Soweto derby for the Guine-Bissau international, who joined the team in the off-season transfer window. The towering forward is expected to start against the Buccaneers, with fans expecting him to score.