Soweto Derby Records

The second Soweto derby of the 2025/26 season takes place this weekend as Orlando Pirates hosts Kaizer Chiefs in a high-stakes league clash. Pirates sit in pole position in the title race, and will be eager to open a gap ahead of Sundowns before the defending champions take to the field later on Sunday. For Chiefs, this is an opportunity to strengthen their hold on third place. As usual, the derby arrives loaded with narratives, but this time, there is tangible history on the line. We dug through the numbers to find eight records that can be equalled or broken this Sunday.

A club record for Chaine

Sipho Chaine is closing in on Pirates history. The Pirates keeper has kept 17 clean sheets in the league this season, more than any other keeper. One more would see him become the first Orlando Pirates goalkeeper in PSL history to record 18 clean sheets in a single campaign, surpassing Moeneeb Josephs’ 17 from 2009/10.

A PSL record for Chaine

As well as setting a new club record, Chaine is within touching distance of the overall PSL record. Ronwen Williams set this record in the 2022/23 season when he had 18 shoutouts throughout the campaign. Chaine can equal that tally on Sunday, and will still have four more games to establish the new benchmark.

Pirates on the verge of a club record

As a team, Pirates are one clean sheet from equalling their club record. In 1999/00, under Ted Dumitru and then Ronald Mkandawire, Pirates kept 18 clean sheets in a PSL season for the first time. Ten seasons later, in 2009/10, they did the same under Ruud Krol. A clean sheet on Sunday would equal that club record.

Goals records for Pirates

This past weekend, Pirates brought up their 50th goal of the season. This is only the second time Pirates managed to score more than 50 goals in a campaign, last happening in the 2004/05 under Kostadin Papic (52 goals). Two goals this weekend would draw them level with that record, while three (as they did in the reverse fixture) would set a new club record in the 30-game era.

Mofokeng chasing creativity benchmark

Chance creation data has only been tracked consistently since 2020. Sanele Barns created 77 chances in 2023/24, which remains a record since 2020. This weekend, Relebohile Mofokeng can equal or break that record. He is currently on 74 chances created and needs three more to equal Barns record, and four to set a new outright record.

Can Pirates win six in a row?

Pirates have won each of the last five league derbies, a streak going back to Jose Riveiro’s tenure. For the club, this is their best streak in PSL history. Oddly, they had lost five consecutive derbies leading up to this current run. A win on Sunday and they would be the first of the teams to win six derbies in a row.

Makgopa closing in on history

Evidence Makgopa has quietly built his reputation in this fixture, scoring four goals against them in just five appearances. One more would draw him level with Thembinkosi Lorch, and two more would see him become the joint-leading goalscorer in derby history (alongside Jerry Sikhosana).

Points record in sight

Orlando Pirates are currently on 58 points, and could equal their club record for a PSL season. In the first 30-game season (2002/3), Pirates amassed 61 points under Roy Baretto. They would wait over 20 years to reach the 60 points mark again, and did so last season under Riveiro. A win this weekend would equal that mark, and set them on course for their all-time PSL record (64).