Known as the Soweto derby, the soccer rivalry between the Premier Soccer League's Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in South Africa is considered one of the most fiercely contested matches in African football. It was first contested on 24 January 1970. Both teams are based in Soweto, Johannesburg. The rivalry stems from the fact that Kaizer Chiefs was formed by a former Orlando Pirates star, Kaizer Motaung. Motaung had left Orlando Pirates to go play professional soccer in the now defunct North American Soccer League for a team called the Atlanta Chiefs. Upon returning home, he decided to form his own team, which initially played friendly matches with various clubs in South Africa and then they turned into to the Kaizer Chiefs. And their home field is the FNB stadium. And we were there.
The FNB (First National Bank) stadium is the largest stadium in Africa and the seventh largest in the world and holds 94,736 fans! It is also known as Soccer City and The Calabash (inspired by the shape of an African pot and the uniqueness of the outside design). It first opened in 1989 but had major renovations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup where the final game was played between the Netherlands and Spain. And we were there!
By the time the game started, it was almost full to capacity.
Back to the beginning.....we met Sandile and his wife, Nicole, at the Johannesburg chapel where we walked over to the bus station. The bus system to get us to the stadium was amazing. The streets were crowded, busy, commotion all over, but the bus had a street of its own that whisked us right to the stadium!
Dennis, Sandile and Nicole
Some of the sights from the bus' window of downtown Johannesburg
Our glimpse of the stadium....
Getting through the bus turnstile.
Me, Nicole and Sandile
Lots of wares being sold...
I brought blankets to keep warm, but I didn't need them.
Waiting in line to get in....look how cute she is
They have a walkway that crosses over roads to the stadium
We arrived 1 1/2 hours early so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds. It was pretty empty but the time went by fast.
Sandile, Nicole and I giving the Chiefs sign.
Sandile, Nicole and I giving the Chiefs sign.
Dennis giving the Pirates and Chiefs sign. Is that a definition of a fair-weather fan? Dennis said he was being dilpomatic!
Inside the stadium. Compare the empty seats to the previous picture above when it was full.
The children had their faces painted.
They came all dressed up with their clothes revealing their allegiance.
The teams first came out and paraded around the field and then went back to the locker room.
Elections were just five days away.....an airplane promoting the EFF party flew by numerous times.
Trying to do a selfie - I don't think we succeeded.
The game began....
We had such a good time with Sandile and Nicole.
The Chiefs won 2 - 0.
Headed back home on the bus. It was everything that we had hoped for. Such a good time.
Thanks Makasi's for a most wonderful Saturday afternoon
That is so awesome. I would love to go to soccer game that means so much in such a huge stadium. I'm glad you finally got to go to a sporting event.
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