The Soweto Derby is one of the few events in South African sport; in fact, in African sport that is iconic because it ignites passion and pride in a way that is deeply felt and celebrated. Derby matches have been a cultural phenomenon over the years, and while in some years it seemed as though their flame was dying out, they still remained relevant. They are a mirror of South Africa’s social evolution, a testament to the power of sport to unite and divide, and the most notable, to heal and to provoke. Many friendships were formed at the stadium. Some died there too.
There wouldn’t have been a Soweto Derby if there had not been a team called Orlando Pirates FC. Orlando Pirates is one of the earliest black football clubs formed under the apartheid regime. The players represented their township, they showed off their skills, natural talent, and their resilience against the system. The team was founded around the 1930s.
Fast-forward to the late 1960s, a player by the name Kaizer Motaung, who was interestingly, a former Orlando Pirates player, formed his own team called Kaizer Chiefs. He was inspired after spending some time abroad. Of course, some saw this move not as a bold one but as a betrayal. Orlando Pirates had already gained a loyal fanbase, and Kaizer Chiefs were the new kids on the block, fighting for recognition on the same turf.
Both teams used football as an outlet. They made an identity statement whenever they brought their fans together at the stadium during their highly entertaining matches. Gold and black are the colours for Kaizer Chiefs FC and black and white are for the Pirates team. Since the early 1970s, both teams produced legends of the game, including, but not limited to: Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe, Jomo Sono, Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, Happy Jele, Jerry Skhosana.
At the advent of the new dawn, the end of the apartheid system, the derby enjoyed television broadcasts in the newly formed Premier Soccer League (1996), which meant that the African continent and a larger global audience could follow the rivalry more closely than before. Comparisons could even be drawn with El Clásico and the Manchester Derby.
Both these teams have always understood that the soul of the derby has its roots in the heart of the southwestern townships. The players have used their stardom to start educational initiatives in their community, empowering the youth. They have seen beyond the glitz and taken up responsibility beyond the game. The Soweto Derby, in that sense, has become more than a spectacle; it has become a catalyst for change.
