Why the Soweto Derby remains South Africa's premier football event

DESPITE mixed form from both clubs and Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance, the Soweto Derby continues to hold its place as South Africa's most anticipated and culturally significant football event.

- SMISO MSOMI

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will meet this Saturday at FNB Stadium in a Betway Premiership match, before facing off again a week later in the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Back-to-back derbies are rare, and while both teams find themselves in different positions on the table, the significance of the fixture hasn't changed.

Chiefs come into the weekend sitting in ninth place, out of the running for any league silverware.

Pirates, meanwhile, are still mathematically in the title race, nine points behind Sundowns with two games in hand.

While a league title push is a long shot, they have plenty to play forespecially with the Nedbank Cup final on the horizon.