Soweto Derby: What Kaze and Ouaddou expect as giants collide

As the 184th Soweto Derby looms, Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze have revealed that they are bracing for a “spicy and emotional” encounter that transcends the usual tactical preparation.

Both mentors admitted that while they strive for “business as usual” behind the scenes, the sheer magnitude of a sold-out FNB Stadium has shifted the energy within their respective camps. With vital league points and title ambitions on the line, they have disclosed that the primary challenge this week hasn’t just been the opposition’s form, but the delicate task of managing the psychological weight of South Africa’s most iconic fixture.

𝙎𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙮: 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮!

The coaches have spoken, and they are on the same page. Ahead of today’s 15:30 kickoff, Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze have warned their young stars… pic.twitter.com/KkRe2YZhQk

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) February 28, 2026

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Johannesburg Expo Centre on Thursday, both coaches painted a picture of a week filled with high tension, tactical chess, and the difficult task of managing player ego ahead of Saturday’s 15:30 kickoff.

The stakes extend far beyond bragging rights this weekend. Orlando Pirates currently sit level at the summit of the Betway Premiership with Mamelodi Sundowns on 38 points. A win could see them reclaim outright leadership. For Kaizer Chiefs, sitting in fourth with 30 points and a game in hand, a victory is essential to keep their flickering title hopes alive.

Both sides enter the “Calabash” wounded. The Buccaneers are reeling from a shock Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of Casric Stars, while Amakhosi are desperate to erase the memory of a midweek 2-1 loss to Stellenbosch FC.

Managing the ‘Soweto Derby Fever’

For Cedric Kaze, the atmosphere at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena has been a dead giveaway that this is no ordinary week.

“You try as much as you can to say it’s business as usual, but from the first day of the week, you can feel it is not usual,” Kaze admitted. “The village is busy with people walking around in preparation. The players know the stadium is going to be packed, and emotions are going to run high. It is our job to make sure players have their minds clear; they must not be too emotional on the field.”

Pirates’ Abdeslam Ouaddou, who is familiar with the intensity of London derbies from his playing days at Fulham, is preparing for his first taste of the Soweto showpiece. He noted that while the data and video analysis remain the same, the “spicy” nature of the rivalry changes the locker room dynamic.

“Everybody is ready to play. It’s going to be difficult to make the starting line-up,” said Ouaddou. “Your first derby is always special. If you win it, it can really help you to settle and give players confidence.”

Unit over Individual Glory in the Soweto Derby

A recurring theme for both mentors was the danger of players trying to use the massive platform for personal highlight reels. Both Kaze and Ouaddou issued a stern warning against “individual projects.”

“For us, it will be important to work as a unit,” Ouaddou emphasised. “In football, you have individual projects regarding players and coaches, but to succeed in a big game like this, it is about putting the collective first.”

Kaze echoed these sentiments, particularly regarding the younger members of the squad who might be overawed by the Soweto Derby occasion. “That’s where coaches come in, because sometimes young players want to play for themselves and forget to work for the team. Finding that balance is the most interesting part of derby week.”

With the FNB Stadium sold out and the title race reaching a boiling point, the 184th instalment of this historic Soweto Derby rivalry promises to be as emotional as the coaches predict.