After days of uncertainty with regards to the mooted clash of fixtures in the African Football League final and the Soweto Derby, the AFL has changed their game to Sunday.
The derby has been pencilled in for Saturday November 11, and the inaugural AFL final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic has now been swiftly moved to accommodate the famous Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Sundowns will host Morocco’s Wydad in the second leg at the Loftus Stadium, with the first round to be played this afternoon.
The AFL has been stepping on the toes of the PSL, firstly when Sundowns requested their fixtures to be rescheduled. Initially, the PSL declined but made a U-turn later, after pressure from the Caf president Patrice Motsepe, who is also funding the PSL’s second tier league known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
So, now, the country’s biggest game will be competing with the continent’s most lucrative club tournament on Saturday – the winners of the AFL will pocket a sugar coated R75-million with number two getting a cool R56-million.
Even though they still have fixtures before the derby to redeem themselves, both teams go into Saturday’s match without much pomp and fanfare because of their recent results. The two biggest clubs in the country are not firing on all cylinders and their supporters have rather accepted the sad reality that Sundowns are now the Kings of SA football.
In recent years, the Soweto giants have declined so much and are playing second fiddle to Sundowns, who have won the league title six times in a row.
Chiefs suffered three consecutive defeats, two in the league and the other in the Carling Knockout cup. The Carling Knockout exit resulted in former coach Molefi Ntseki getting the boot and Cavin Johnson, who had a baptism of fire against Golden Arrows last week, taking over the reins.
Chiefs will face Cape Town Spurs midweek, and this should give Johnson an opportunity to polish his charges before they meet an equally limping Pirates.
The Buccaneers have dropped 10 points in four matches and their supporters are becoming restless. They were embarrassed by a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Spurs midweek.
Besides winning three trophies on the trot, Jose Riveiro’s charges are edging closer to the relegation zone. They are sitting on position 13, with a mere nine points after seven matches.
They have another chance to redeem themselves before the derby when they face Sekhukhune United midweek.
The derby will kick off at 3.30pm at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
