What makes Xoki so confident of Orlando Pirates’ Nedbank Cup triumph?

The composed Orlando Pirates centre-back, Tapelo Xoki, exudes calm and confidence ahead of the highly anticipated, sold-out Nedbank Cup final against Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Chiefs and Pirates, two giants of SA football, will clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is set for 3:30 PM (CAT).

Heading into the first Soweto Derby final since 2014, Pirates look to seal their third consecutive Nedbank Cup title, while Chiefs will be eager to end their nine-year trophy drought.

Pirates have beaten Chiefs in the last five Soweto Derbies, so they are deemed the ‘favourites’ to lift the trophy. However, writing off a Chiefs side that came from a goal down to beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup would be a mistake.

With that said, Xoki’s assured demeanour before a fixture many see as unpredictable, and despite Chiefs’ well-known challenges, stems partly from Pirates’ impressive victories against formidable opponents throughout the current season.

One of the Buccaneers’ standout achievements in the 2024/2025 season was completing a league double over Chiefs in a hard-fought 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium last Saturday. In that match, Pirates demonstrated resilience by rallying from behind.

In addition, Pirates secured big victories in games against runaway league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. The Soweto giants also showcased their mettle by defeating Sundowns 2-1 in a second-round Betway Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium in March.

The victory against Sundowns was followed by another big result that captured the attention of football fans across the African continent. In January, Pirates triumphed 2-1 over Al Ahly in Cairo during their final CAF Champions League group stage match. This achievement was particularly noteworthy as it marked the Buccaneers’ first appearance in the group stage since the 2018/2019 season.

Pirates progressed to the semi-finals as the only undefeated team in the Champions League, eventually losing 3-2 on aggregate to another Egyptian side, Pyramids FC.

“[Winning big games] helps in gaining experience,” said Xoki during Pirates’ media open day in Durban on Thursday. “We have a lot of young players in the group, and they’ve been exposed to these types of games. It helps them and everyone at the club in how to prepare for these games, what to expect, and what to deliver on the day.

“Everyone knows what is expected of them. We don’t have to carry anyone, trying to motivate them for the game.”