Pirates face Makgopa decision before Soweto Derby with Chiefs

Orlando Pirates must decide whether to restore Evidence Makgopa to their starting line-up when they meet Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on 31 October.

The 25-year-old striker has repeatedly delivered in the fixture, but his return has coincided with strong form from Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma.

Pirates’ willingness to fast-track Makgopa for a Derby was revealed in Giants, a five-part SuperSport documentary about the club’s successful 2025/26 title-winning campaign.

Makgopa was carrying an injury before last season’s meeting with Kaizer Chiefs, but Pirates accelerated his recovery because of his influence in major matches and his record against their rivals.

The decision paid off. On 28 February 2026, Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at FNB Stadium, recording their biggest league victory over their rivals since 2001/02.

Makgopa entered the match as a 68th-minute substitute and headed in the third goal from Tshepang Moremi’s cross 10 minutes later. The result moved Pirates three points clear at the top of the table and helped them secure a league title that ended a 13-year drought.

Makgopa has scored four goals in five appearances against Amakhosi, averaging one goal every 64 minutes. That record makes him the leading active scorer in the fixture for either side.

He has also scored in his past three Derby appearances, finding the net on 11 November 2023, 3 May 2025 and again in February 2026.

Makgopa returns as rivals compete for places

Makgopa made his comeback from injury in Pirates’ 3-0 win over TS Galaxy on 13 October, providing an assist with the Derby roughly two weeks away.

He had missed the opening weeks of the 2026/27 campaign after patellar tendinitis ruled him out from early August.

In his absence, Radiopane and Mbuthuma have taken their opportunities under head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Radiopane has scored three goals in five league appearances, giving him a goals-per-90-minutes figure of 1.13, the highest in the squad. He opened the scoring against TS Galaxy after being left out of the matchday squad for three successive games in September.

Mbuthuma has scored twice in six league appearances and also supplied important assists during the MTN8 campaign.

The former Richards Bay striker played a decisive role in Pirates’ semi-final win over Sekhukhune United, setting up two goals before scoring twice in the following league match against Kruger United.

The competition is further complicated by the different qualities the two players offer and the success Pirates have had rotating them.

Ouaddou must now choose between beginning with the in-form pair or selecting Makgopa from the outset, with the documentary having underlined the club’s belief in his ability to perform in South Africa’s biggest fixture.