Soweto Derby: PSL make big change on next Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs fixture

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will battle on a different date to the one initially scheduled after the PSL made changes to the Soweto Derby fixture.

Pirates were initially set to host Chiefs on Saturday April 25 but now, that match will be played on Sunday April 26 with Kick-off time remaining 15:00 at the FNB Stadium.

It will be one of the rare times when the Soweto Derby is played on a Sunday as Saturday has always been the preferred day.

Why Soweto Derby has been moved

The change in date has been necessitated by the Ultra Music Festival which is scheduled for Saturday April 25 at Nasrec and is expected to attract more than 20,000 people. Hosting the Soweto Derby on the same day would therefore have been a logistical nightmare.

“I don’t know [whether the game will be moved to Sunday, April 26],” Stadium Management SA (SMSA) CEO Bertie Grobbelaar had told the Sowetan before the change of fixture date.

“We have a meeting on Friday with both event organisers to discuss exactly that. We became aware of the other event after seeing marketing and advertising fliers. It seems both events were organised and categorised by SAPS.”

Will Chiefs get revenge on Pirates?

Whatever the date, both sides will be looking for three points with Chiefs desperate to get things right after the last Soweto Derby went horribly wrong for them.

The Glamour Boys were thrashed 3-0 by a rampant Pirates on February 28, their worst loss to the Buccaneers in over 25 years, and will be itching for revenge.

Meanwhile, Pirates will hope to pile more misery on their bitter rivals and boost their own ambitions as they are currently in a tight Premier Soccer League title race with Mamelodi Sundowns.