The iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium is poised to ignite this Saturday as Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates clash in a highly anticipated Nedbank Cup final.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue to this fierce rivalry is the impending departure of Orlando Pirates’ Spanish coach, Jose Riveiro.
Having guided the Buccaneers to consecutive Nedbank Cup victories in 2023 and 2024, Riveiro stands on the cusp of history. No other coach has ever achieved a hat-trick of consecutive titles in this prestigious tournament.
Orlando Pirates are determined to etch their names further into Nedbank Cup folklore, aiming for a third successive triumph after overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns in last year’s final and Sekhukhune United the year before.
In stark contrast, Kaizer Chiefs are enduring a lengthy trophy drought, their last piece of silverware being the league title almost a decade ago in the 2014/15 season.
The contrasting fortunes of the two Soweto giants extend to their current league campaigns. While Orlando Pirates are still mathematically challenging Mamelodi Sundowns for the Betway Premiership crown, Kaizer Chiefs find themselves languishing in ninth place, desperately seeking a top-eight finish.
This season, the Mighty Buccaneers secured a league double over their rivals. Their 2-1 victory just last week added to the dramatic 96th-minute penalty winner from Tito Maswanganyi in their earlier league encounter.
Speaking at the club’s media open day in Durban ahead of this weekend’s showdown, a reflective Jose Riveiro articulated his feelings about reaching another cup final.
“It’s a pleasure and honour to be here, one more time, in the final representing Orlando Pirates,” he stated.
“It’s what we have been looking for since day one, when we started together. We worked hard enough to find ourselves regularly in almost every final since we started.
Riveiro emphasized the team’s focus, stating, “It’s something to celebrate one more time. We don’t want to play the occasion; we want to focus on the game plan and focus on the way that we can beat Chiefs, and also they can beat us, so that we can avoid it [being beaten by Chiefs].
“We’re going to try to make the Chiefs play badly. That’s the intention on the day.
He concluded, “We’ve done it already several times together, and we want to make sure that we are there again.”
Since his arrival in 2022, the Spanish tactician has amassed an impressive five trophies with Amabhakabhaka. Despite this success, he has opted not to extend his contract beyond the current season, where his team remains competitive on two fronts.
With five league matches remaining, the Buccaneers are refusing to concede the league title to Mamelodi Sundowns and are simultaneously driven to add another Nedbank Cup to their trophy cabinet with a victory over their arch-rivals, Kaizer Chiefs.
The stage is set for another electrifying chapter in the Soweto Derby saga as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates renew their rivalry in the Nedbank Cup final this weekend at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15h30 on Saturday, 10 May 2025. As the anticipation builds, we want to know who you are backing? Drop your vote here.