POLITICS

"Derby Fever! Who will win the Battle of the Giants?" - Daily Sun

The front page and lead story of SA's largest daily newspaper, October 25 2013

Chiefs will take the glory! - Rebby Moalus

THE LAST TIME Kaizer Chiefs played an Absa Premiership match was more than a month ago.

In that game, Amakhosi beat the on-form Platinum Stars.

Tomorrow Amakhosi take to the ground with only one thing in mind - the three points at stake.

Orlando Pirates players are tired - and for good reason, as they reached the CAF Champions League final.

But that will not be Amakhosi's concern, as collecting the points is critical at this stage of the championship. Chiefs' striker Bernard Parker has once more, like last season, taken the lead in the goalscoring stakes.

Pirates have only played two games in the league and their shy manner in front of goal, especially in the League, cannot be overlooked.

They have only managed to score a single goal in two matches. That's poor, compared to Chiefs' seven goals from six matches. We should not be misled by form in cup competitions, as the league is a marathon and games like tomorrow's derby are a litmus test of the pedigree of any team.

That is the pedigree I believe Pirates lack, and Chiefs have in abundance.

Amakhosi are definitely my favourites to snatch the three points.

Buccaneers have the edge! - Billy Cooper

IT WILL BE just another day at the office for battle-hardened Orlando Pirates when they meet arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs in tomorrow's Absa Premiership Soweto derby.

FNB Stadium is sold out for the match at 3.30pm.

Bucs have the mental advantage, having beaten their rivals in the MTN8 last month, reached the final of the CAF Champions League and on Wednesday, destroyed Golden Arrows 4-0 to qualify for the Telkom Knockout semifinal.

Forget all that talk about Pirates suffering from fatigue after playing in 14 CAF Champions League and travelling up and down the African continent since July!

The reason Pirates have the edge and are a sure bet to win is precisely because of their African heroics.

They have beaten some of the best sides on the way to a cup final date with Al Ahly of Egypt next weekend.

This has made Bucs the fittest and mentally strongest side in the country, has cemented their team spirit and boosted their confidence.

Chiefs may be more rested and fresh but for Pirates, success can only breed more success!

See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 287 222 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2013) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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