Soweto Derby beckons international fans

Kaizer Chiefs domestic league form might be feeble, but it appears their fan-base remains strong in South Africa and beyond the borders.

Ahead of the grudge meeting with sworn-rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday, AmaKhosi have announced that they expect fans from other countries, especially in Southern Africa, to witness the Betway Premiership blockbuster.

Amakhosi Family,

It was a tough day in the office on Tuesday, and we share the disappointment of suffering our second league loss of the season after 16 matches. But the journey continues, and the focus now shifts to the big one, the Soweto Derby.

As we prepare for the clash… pic.twitter.com/Nzz8d0LFtF

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) February 25, 2026

In a statement, the Glamour Boys justified the growing hype behind the sold-out Soweto derby scheduled for FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, saying the club remains South Africa’s biggest and most storied football institution.

Fans from Zambia and other countries ready for Soweto derby

“Thousands of supporters from Limpopo to the Western Cape, and further afield from Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, Namibia and other countries are preparing to travel for this historic encounter, a rivalry that first began in 1970, shortly after the formation of Kaizer Chiefs,” reads part of the statement.

“In 183 previous meetings, Amakhosi have claimed victory 75 times, most recently in May during the Nedbank Cup final in Durban. The Sea Robbers have triumphed on 49 occasions, while 54 matches have ended in draws. A handful of fixtures were abandoned for various reasons.”

Despite the expected huge patronage, the brutal truth is that AmaKhosi are a shadow of their old self. They exited the CAF Confederation Cup group-stage and their Betway Premiership remains a gamble.

Questions on Kaizer Chiefs ahead of Soweto derby

AmaKhosi will go into the Soweto derby while smarting from a 2-1 loss to Stellenbosch FC in a midweek clash.

Nonetheless, Amakhosi, remain optimistic ahead of the meeting with the Soweto rivals, even more so with the return from injury of regular players such as goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, midfielderThabo Cele, and defender Bradley Cross.

The Glamour Boy lie in fourth place in the standings with 30 points from 16 matches.

Pirates’ too have issues but at least they have shown remarkable consistency winning two cups, and they now lie second on goal aggregate despite being on par on points with holders Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers lost their last game to second-tier league Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars on post-match penalties in a Nedbank Round of 16 clash over the weekend.

Live match performances to spice up PSL blockbuster

Apart from the actual action on the pitch, supporters from both camps are assured of an endless stream of entertainment from live performances by Boohle, Vigro Deep, Tman Xpress and Ch’cco.

“Early birds will be rewarded as sponsors Vodacom, Carling Black Label, SuperSportBet, and Toyota will host activations, with the first 20,000 fans receiving special goodies courtesy or our partners. In addition, Carling Black Label and Kaizer Chiefs will give one lucky supporter the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America,” adds the statement.

The game will kickoff 15:30 Southern African Time and will be broadcast live on SABC 1, SuperSport Channel 202 on DStv, and many SABC radio stations.