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The most anticipated fixture in South African football returns on Sunday as Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs in the second Soweto Derby of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
Kick-off at Orlando Stadium is at 15:00 SAST, and with every ticket snapped up, the atmosphere promises to be electric.
Follow live Soweto Derby updates
We will be updating this page with the latest team news, atmosphere reports, and in-match updates as Orlando Pirates take on Kaizer Chiefs at Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is at 15:00 SAST — keep refreshing for live coverage.
Match details
The clash takes place on 26 April 2026 at 13:00 UTC (15:00 SAST) at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, as part of the Betway Premiership Round 26.
This is the 185th official meeting between Amakhosi and the Sea Robbers, and the second and final derby of the current campaign.
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The match was moved from the originally scheduled Saturday to Sunday due to logistical considerations in the Nasrec area. The Sunday date is also expected to benefit travelling supporters, as Monday, 27 April, is a public holiday marking South Africa’s 32nd Freedom Day.
Tickets: sold out
Tickets for the match were made available exclusively online via the My Ticket app, and with the first-round clash in February having sold out in a matter of hours, demand for this second fixture was equally fierce.
Orlando Pirates confirmed the match as sold out ahead of Sunday’s showdown. Fans unable to attend can follow live coverage on SuperSport and DStv.
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Orla: a title race on the line
Pirates head into Sunday’s fixture locked in a tight title race with Mamelodi Sundowns, with just one point separating the sides at the top of the table. Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, currently occupy third position.
Football journalist Masebe Qina underlined the pressure on the Buccaneers:
“Based on the very tight title race that Pirates are involved in, competing for that top spot with Mamelodi Sundowns puts them under a lot of pressure going into this clash,” Qina said.
He added that consistency will be key, particularly after Pirates dropped points against Richards Bay at a crucial stage of the campaign.
On the Chiefs’ side, Qina noted that while Amakhosi are not competing for the title, they will be under pressure from their supporters to finish in the top three. He highlighted their defensive solidity as a key asset:
“Kaizer Chiefs have been good defensively of late, very impressive and solid at the back, and they are not conceding too many goals, which will work in their favour. I think they will put more emphasis on defence, try to catch [Pirates] on the counter, and possibly steal it late on.”
The first leg: Pirates’ statement win
When these sides met at a sold-out FNB Stadium on 28 February, Pirates delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Chiefs 3-0 in hot and rainy conditions. Tshepang Moremi opened the scoring to set the tone, Oswin Appollis doubled the advantage, and Evidence Makgopa sealed the victory with a third to spark wild celebrations among the black-and-white half of the crowd.
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The emphatic margin was Pirates’ joint-highest in the league this season and the biggest in a Premiership derby since the 2001/02 season, taking them three points clear at the top while extending their winning streak over their rivals to five consecutive league games.
Appollis: “My brother said you’ll score”
One of the defining stories of this season’s derby rivalry is the emergence of Oswin Appollis. The 24-year-old winger joined the Buccaneers from Polokwane City at the start of the season and has been in scintillating form, registering 11 goals and nine assists in 38 matches across all competitions.
His contributions have been central to Pirates’ cup double — the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout — and their sustained title push.
Reflecting on his first Soweto Derby experience after the February win, Appollis recalled the moment his younger brother called him after the game.
“You know it’s a special moment. After the game my brother called me and I think he is 11 or 12, and he was very excited because he said to me before the game ‘You’ll score’. This is a game I was always watching with him at home before I even played in the derby. So, it’s a very happy moment for me,” Appollis told the media.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash, Appollis revealed the mindset required to succeed at this level:
“I think it’s the same game — the difference is that it’s a sold-out match, so you need confidence going into it. That’s what we did in the first game.”
The winger’s journey is also one of resilience, having nearly quit football a few seasons ago before rebuilding his career at Pretoria Callies and then Polokwane City. Asked whether he expected such a strong start at Pirates, he was candid:
“To be honest, yes. The players that I am surrounded by here are quality, and that helps you grow as a player.”
De Jong: ready for his derby debut
Striker Andre de Jong, a January signing from Stellenbosch, was an unused substitute in February when goals from Moremi, Appollis and Makgopa sealed the convincing win.
The New Zealand international has spoken openly about his desire to experience the derby from inside the field this time.
“Obviously, my last debut experience, it was incredible to be there. Sitting on the bench that day and seeing the atmosphere around the stadium, and the two sets of supporters. Obviously, a lot of smiles from the Pirates fans that day, it was incredible to be part of. And it’s something that while playing for Royal AM, AmaZulu and Stellies, was sort of a dream of mine to play in a big game like that.”
Recent head-to-head: Pirates in the ascendancy
Pirates have held the upper hand in recent meetings, winning six of their last seven encounters with Chiefs. Crucially, there has not been a draw in this fixture for 17 meetings — the last stalemate was a 2-2 result in the Telkom Knockout in 2019.
Soweto Derby experience
The Soweto Derby is recognised as one of the biggest derbies in Africa. First contested on 24 January 1970, the rivalry between the two most followed clubs in South Africa stems from the fact that Kaizer Chiefs was founded by former Orlando Pirates star Kaizer Motaung, who broke away to form his own club after returning from a stint in the North American Soccer League with the Atlanta Chiefs.
More than half a century later, each encounter retains the power to stop the nation in its tracks.
Sunday’s edition carries added weight. With a title to chase, a stadium roaring to capacity, and individual stories of redemption and ambition on both sides, the 185th Soweto Derby has every ingredient to deliver another unforgettable chapter.
Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs — Betway Premiership Round 26 — Orlando Stadium, Soweto — Sunday 26 April 2026, 15:00 SAST
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