Chiefs, Pirates set for CBLC battle

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will meet in the return of the unofficial season curtain raiser, the Carling Black Label Cup (CBLC), at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT.

The high-profile friendly returns to the calendar after being absent in 2018, and sees Chiefs looking to complete a hat-trick of victories following their triumphs in 2016 and 2017. They currently trail Pirates 4-3 in terms of overall CBLC wins.

The Amakhosi endured another trophy-less season in 2018/19 and will be desperate to begin the new campaign with some silverware – albeit in a non-competitive match. The pressure will be on coach Ernst Middendorp, who has overseen preparations for the new season and signed several new players, including Lazarous Kambole, James Kotei, Samir Nurkovic and Kearyn Baccus.

Goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, who will stand in for the injured Itumeleng Khune, hopes to make a major impression on the match – and given that it often goes to penalties, he may just get his wish.

“I believe I was born ready it’s a great opportunity for me‚” he said. “Playing in the derby‚ I know there are no friendly matches in this kind of a game. I can’t wait for Saturday. I just want to be there and show what I’m capable of doing.”

Pirates themselves have not won a major competition since the 2014 Nedbank Cup, but the progress they made under coach Milutin Sredojevic last season (they finished runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns and took the title fight to the last day of the league campaign) suggests silverware may soon be on its way.

The Buccaneers have also been very busy in the transfer market, with their most notable additions being the likes of Tshegofatso Mabasa, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Fortune Makaringe and Frank Mhango.

Pirates veteran Happy Jele wants to see the club return to their glory days of just under a decade ago, when they won back-to-back domestic trebles.

“The time for excuses if finished. It’s time to bring something to the team and the league is one of them, it’s the first priority for the team. We also want the other domestic cups,” said Jele.

“So for this season each and every player made a promise that obviously we want to have the league. The only thing I wish is to bring back the glory days to Orlando Pirates and win the trebles, like the likes of [Lucky] Lekgwathi, [Siyabonga] Sangweni and myself.

“I want to bring that back, so that the youngsters that are coming can feel what we had in the trebles. So that’s my goal.”

As ever, the starting XIs for both teams were selected by supporters via a voting system, while two fans have the chance to be ‘Champion Coaches’ and sit on their respective team’s bench. Supporters have also voted on ‘Game Changer’ rules which has further strengthened their influence on the match.

Starting XIs

Kaizer Chiefs

Bruce Bvuma, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Daniel Cardoso, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Lorenzo Gordinho, George Maluleka, Siphelele Ntshangase, Dumisani Zuma, Khama Billiat, Bernard Parker, Lazarous Kambole

Orlando Pirates

Wayne Sandilands, Mthokozisi Dube, Happy Jele, Justice Chabalala, Innocent Maela, Thembinkosi Lorch, Vincent Pule, Ben Motshwari, Luvuyo Memela, Augustine Mulenga, Justin Shonga.

Past CBLC results

2011 – Orlando Pirates 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs – Pirates won 4-3 on penalties

2012 – Orlando Pirates 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs – Pirates won 5-4 on penalties

2013 – Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Orlando Pirates

2014 – Orlando Pirates 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs – Pirates won 6-5 on penalties

2015 – Orlando Pirates 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs – Pirates won 4-3 on penalties

2016 – Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 Orlando Pirates

2017 – Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Orlando Pirates