There are very few things that bring us as South Africans together than our love for the beautiful game of football [Soccer]. We love it, we loathe it, we celebrate it more than we celebrate our own milestones, we cry over it like our lives have just come to a halt, we forgive our teams more than we forgive the people we love, we hug over it, fight over it, but when its all said and done, we clap for it, we cheer for it and scream with joy over it. We call it Soccer, the beautiful game.
There has been many debates, some as fresh as right this moment while you are reading this, about whether the Soweto Derby is still worth the hype or not. Well let me paint a picture, the people born in the same year that the first Soweto Derby was staged, are now retired. Some are grandparents, some are only starting to live, some have long left this earth but the upcoming Soweto Derby is still a sold out affair. Whether the quality of football during that specific match is worth it or not, the culture has without a single doubt outlived the doubts many of us have had in our minds.
The first ever Soweto Derby was a 10 goals scotcher with Orlando Pirates winning 6-4, that was in 1970, That score has never been repeated again, atleast not to my knowledge. We can remain expectant but we are the only ones who will get hurt, the teams know it, the players know it, the commentators know it, the broadcasters know it, the sponsors know it, even we know it. It is very highly likely that it will be a draw, but that is just me not setting myself up for a heart break, because if my team wins, it will be a pleasantly welcomed victory, if they lose, it wont be by a huge margin so I will find a way to console myself.
Both teams are going into the derby at the back of loses, Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 to Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates lost 5-4 in penalties to Casric United in the Nedbank Cup. It would be lovely to believe that we are in for a treat as both teams will be looking to use the derby for redemption, but to be honest with you, for the love of my heart nesdima sami, I will got in expecting a draw or a 2-1 score at the end of the match. I wont say to whose favour because my husband and I do not support the same team and my marriage is more important that me being right on the internet.
Dont forget to pray for your team because trust me, they need it more than they need the magic sprinkle they leave behind the posts during their pre match field walkabout. Maybe I will come back to write about the results, maybe I wont, but eitherway I wish your team the best but I only hope for my team to win.
Article by : Kea Bapela
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