Duba and Dortley handed key roles for Chiefs in Soweto derby

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz is expected to rely on Wandile Duba’s attacking threat and Rushwin Dortley’s defensive strength when his side meet Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s Soweto derby.

The match at FNB Stadium is Da Cruz’s first in the fixture, with Chiefs arriving in confident mood after a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the last 16 of the Carling Knockout Cup on Tuesday night.

Duba scored his first hat-trick in that win and will be expected to carry his form into the country’s biggest sporting fixture. The young forward also showed his confidence after the game when he responded to Galaxy’s pre-match social media banter by saying they considered themselves lions when they were actually donkeys.

That fearless attitude could prove valuable as Chiefs look to secure three points and claim bragging rights against their arch-rivals.

“I am very happy for Duba. He is a young player who sometimes has ups and downs. I think he just needs to improve his consistency,” Da Cruz said.

“He’s a young and very good player. He’s able to drop deep and make runs into space. He’s very good up front, but he must continue working hard and listening to the coaching staff. If he does that, he can become a Bafana Bafana player as well.”

Despite their improved confidence, Chiefs will enter the derby as underdogs. Orlando Pirates have recently qualified for the CAF Champions League group stages, while Chiefs narrowly missed out on a place in the Confederation Cup.

That status may ease some of the pressure on Da Cruz’s team, although the coach will be keen to mark his first Soweto derby with victory.

Dortley’s return offers Chiefs another boost

Chiefs’ defensive unit also appeared more settled against TS Galaxy, with the return of Bafana international Dortley helping them keep a clean sheet.

His organisation and ability to deal with Pirates’ attack could be particularly important on Saturday.

“Dortley has very good technical abilities,” Da Cruz said. “He’s able to break lines with ease and find players in space. He’s strong in the air and wins his duels.”

Dortley had been absent for an extended period because of injury, requiring the coaching staff to take a cautious approach to his comeback.

“We needed him for a long time, but due to his injury, we had to be patient with his return. For a few weeks, I hesitated to start him, especially for the CAF games,” Da Cruz added.

“But based on what we saw from him in training leading up to this match, we decided it was the right time to put him in.

“I am very happy for Dortley; he was out for a long time. You could see it was an emotional game for him, and I am delighted with his performance.”