Soweto Derby: Will Kaizer Chiefs Coach Stuart Baxter Continue His Great Record Against Orlando Pirates?

Soweto Derby: Will Kaizer Chiefs Coach Stuart Baxter Continue His Great Record Against Orlando Pirates?

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM
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  • Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is intent on keeping Orlando Pirates under his boot when the rivals collide in the Soweto Derby on Saturday afternoon
  • Having already defeated the Buccaneers 2-1 in the corresponding DStv Premiership fixture in November, the Amakhosi also leapfrogged them on the log table on Saturday night
  • The match will be the 17th time that Baxter has taken on the Sea Robbers, pitting his wits against co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids this time around

KickOff compiled a report showing how, in the previous 16 encounters, Baxter had only been beaten once in spells when he coached Chiefs and Pirates' other nemesis SuperSport United. That sole loss came with the Phefeni Glamour Boys in the first leg of the 2013 MTN 8 semi-final.

That record includes a run of 13 matches without defeat since that match and eight wins in total, including Matsantsanta's 6-1 humiliation of Mushin Ertugral's side in November 2016, which at the time equaled Pirates' biggest ever defeat.

Soweto Derby: Will Kaizer Chiefs Coach Stuart Baxter Continue His Great Record Against Orlando Pirates?
Stuart Baxter has thoroughly dominated Orlando Pirates in his time in South Africa.
Source: Getty Images

KickOff also reported that Baxter has also never lost away from home to Saturday's hosts and boasts a record of three wins, one of which includes the 2014 MTN 8 final in which Chiefs were the "away team", and five draws on the road.

The former Bafana Bafana coach will have the advantage of fresher legs for the encounter as well as his side head into the match with a full week's rest, whereas the Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids-led Pirates must first contend with Cape Town City on Wednesday.

Should they win that match, the Buccanneers will climb back above Chiefs into third position in the league standings, although Baxter's charges will have three matches in hand over their bitter rivals.

Change.org petition calling for Stuart Baxter's firing gets reaction from Kaizer Chiefs, provokes social media

The Change.org petition created by a fan demanding for the firing of Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has hit a raw nerve.

As reported on Sports Brief, the petition provoked strong emotions in Kaizer Chiefs fans, but more remarkably, got the attention of the club and its response.

One official said the demands would be heeded and the necessary changes made, while another stated the club would not act on a matter of personal opinion.

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