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The Soweto Derby is back!
Africa’s most exciting rivalry is the captivating story of one township divided by two legendary teams. On one side—the famous black and gold of Amakhosi—and on the other, the iconic black and white of Pirates.
Over 21,000 tickets for the 186th edition of the Derby were completely sold out in less than six hours. This massive cultural phenomenon that brings the Rainbow nation to a standstill has drawn the attention of a global football icon. Yes, Thierry Henry has landed on the shores of Mzanzi! The French legend will be in attendance at the Amstel Arena to mark the Premier Soccer League’s 30th-anniversary campaign.
Also going to be enjoying the festivities in Orlando are two well-known local superfans: “PHD” (The Intellectual Buccaneer) and “Papa Wawa”, who share a long-standing brotherhood. Despite their competing loyalties, their shared passion for this historic day in Soweto overrides their rivalry. Here is what they had to say:
Hello, Papa Wawa, how did you become friends with PHD?
“Nelson Mandela once said, “Sports have the power to unite people”.
PHD and I are only enemies during the game, but after 90 minutes we are the best of friends. Football connects us. We are both from Tzaneen in Limpopo. I was surprised to learn that we speak the same language and we come from the same hood. Don’t be fooled by our onscreen rivalry. PHD is my brother for life!”
How did you start supporting Kaizer Chiefs?
“Supporting Kaizer Chiefs is a family thing. It is a generational thing. It is a culture.”
“I grew up under the roof of parents and grandparents who ate and breathed Kaizer Chiefs, so falling in love with the club was inevitable. My daughter is a die-hard supporter. It is a rule in my house that no child of mine can support Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns because if you let them support your rival, you are teaching them how to betray you.”
PHD, what is the best thing about working with Papa Wawa?
“He is funny. He says the most unexpected things. I love working with him. Did you watch when he called someone a “pregnant mosquito”? That is Papa Wawa for you. I enjoy all our football banter. I just want to see his face when we beat Kaizer Chiefs today.”
PHD, how do you think the Soweto Derby can become as big as the El’Classico in Spain?
“El Clásico is broadcast live in over 180 countries. The Soweto Derby needs aggressive international TV deals and global streaming partnerships so fans worldwide can tune in.
El Clásico is also elevated because both Real Madrid and Barcelona regularly contest and win the UEFA Champions League. For the Soweto Derby to carry the same weight, both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates must regularly dominate or win the CAF Champions League.”
Kick off your Soweto Derby experience with PhD and Papa Wawa on the African Diamonds show.
