19 years since Kaizer Chiefs met Orlando Pirates in Nedbank final
- Dennis Kegengo
- May 5
- 2 min read
Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Gaston Sirino has explained why beating Orlando Pirates to the Nedbank Cup title will carry weight for the struggling South African club this season.
Amakhosi and Pirates will face off in Durban for the domestic Cup final for the first time in 19 years. The last one, back in 2006, ended 0-0 with Chiefs winning 5-3 in the shoot-out.
When Chiefs and Pirates take to the field at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the final on 10 May, it will be 19,510 days, or 53 years and five months, since their first meeting in the Nedbank Cup on 11 December 1971.
While Pirates have a slim chance of winning the Betway Premiership, Chiefs have the domestic Cup as their only hope for silverware this campaign. Despite having won the trophy with Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2021/22 season, Sirino has revealed the importance of Chiefs beating Pirates on Saturday.
“Like I said to my wife…It will be a different feeling to make history here at Chiefs; it’s a different cup, and it’s a different opportunity for me. I have already won the Nedbank Cup, but this one is special to me. I want to fight to make history. We need to prepare next season to play better,” said Sirino as quoted by FARPost.
“Sometimes we play well, very well. But we lose or draw the game, I think it’s our mistake. We need to take responsibility. But we need to win the final. So it’s a good opportunity to change everything. So now we need to fight more to win this trophy.”
Chiefs and Pirates have met 21 times in the Nedbank Cup in all rounds of the competition. Chiefs have nine wins in regulation time, including extra time, with one win on penalties.
Pirates have seven wins, with the remaining four games ending in draws. Their last meeting was in the 2022/23 semi-final, which Pirates won 2-1 in extra time.
