Shaun Bartlett believes recent league form will not tell the full story when Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs meet in the Soweto Derby. The former Kaizer Chiefs striker and assistant coach said the fixture is too emotional, too intense and too tied to local pride for any simple form guide to matter.
“I always say when it comes to the derby, form guide goes out the window,” Bartlett said, underlining just how unpredictable South Africa’s showpiece fixture can be.
Why the Soweto Derby is different
Bartlett said the match is often decided by more than what has happened in the weeks before kickoff. In his view, the pressure and emotion surrounding the game can shift the balance completely, even if one side arrives with better results.
“There’s a lot of emotion. It’s about the pride of Soweto. And sometimes you’ll find a team that’s maybe not in form will come into this game and sometimes get the results. So I think it’s a tricky one to call, to be honest,” he said.
He also pointed to the atmosphere as a major factor. According to Bartlett, the crowd alone makes the occasion unlike a normal league match. “The key is the crowd. The other games you probably won’t ever get close to 80,000 or 90,000,” he said.
That kind of stage, he added, increases the pressure on both clubs. “When it comes to the Soweto Derby and playing Pirates, there’s a lot more pressure for both clubs. Representing the badge is a massive honour, irrespective of who you are or where you come from,” Bartlett said.
What Bartlett knows about derby pressure
Bartlett’s view comes from direct experience. He spent six seasons in the English Premier League with Charlton Athletic before joining Kaizer Chiefs, and he said his own first derby goal helped him settle into the occasion.
“When I played my first game and I scored, it gave me a little bit of credibility,” he said. “When you score in a derby game, the fans warm to you a little bit sooner.”
For Bartlett, that is part of what makes the Soweto Derby so special. It is not only about points or league position. It is about pressure, identity and the chance to earn trust in one of South Africa’s biggest football fixtures.
