Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will return to Durban for the Nedbank Cup final for the first time in 19 years.
The last one, back in 2006, ended 0-0 with Kaizer Chiefs winning 5-3 in the shoot-out.
The battles between the teams in the country’s most prestigious cup competition, currently known as the Nedbank Cup, stretch back to 1971.
Storied rivalry
Here, we break down this storied rivalry in by the numbers through the years, as Kaizer Chiefs head into the cup final looking for a record extending 14th title.
1: The first meetings in the Nedbank Cup between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates came in the 1971 final; the first game ended 2-2 on 11 December, and Amakhosi won the replay 2-1 on 18 December, with goals from Petrus ‘Ten Ten’ Ndzimande and Michael ‘Bizzah’ Dlamini.
2: This will be only the second meeting in the Nedbank Cup final between the teams in the PSL era (since 1996/97). The other was in 2005/06.
3: The teams once met in three successive Nedbank Cup finals – in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Orlando Pirates won the first one, with Kaizer Chiefs winning the latter two.
4: Three different coaches have won Nedbank Cup titles in the PSL era. For all three, it was their first cup final as Chiefs coach.
Muhsin Ertugral in 1999/2000; Ernst Middendorp in 2005/06 and Stuart Baxter in 2012/13. Nasereddine Nabi could become the fourth Kaizer Chiefs coach in the PSL era to win the Nedbank Cup in his first season at the helm of the club.
4: This is the fourth Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to be played in KwaZulu-Natal. In the 1974 final, Orlando Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs in KwaMashu. Kaizer Chiefs have won the last two, in 1976 in Umlazi, and at Kings Park in Durban in 2005/06.
5: Kaizer Chiefs’ all- time top scorer in games against Orlando Pirates, Ace Ntsoelengoe, scored 19 goals in derby games. He managed to score in five Nedbank Cup finals against Orlando Pirates – in 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1982.
6: Of the teams’ eight previous meetings in the Nedbank Cup final, Kaizer Chiefs have won six finals – in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984 and 2006. Orlando Pirates have managed two wins, in 1975 and 1988.
6: The 2024/25 Nedbank Cup is Kaizer Chiefs’ sixth Nedbank Cup final in the PSL era. They have won three of their previous five finals appearances – in 1999/00, 2005/06 and 2012/13. They were runners-up in 1998/99 and 2018/19.
9: This will be their ninth meeting between the sides in a Nedbank Cup final. They previously met in the final in 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988 and 2005/06.
11: Kaizer Chiefs have had 11 different coaches at the helm for their 13 Nedbank Cup titles. Thomas Johnson won two titles, as head coach in 1971, and co-head coach along with current club chairman, Kaizer Motaung in 1972. The chairman also won the cup as sole head coach in 1977. One other coach, Elkiam Khumalo, has managed to win two titles as Kaizer Chiefs coach, doing so in 1976 and 1981.
12: This will be Kaizer Chiefs’ and Orlando Pirates’ 12th match in a Nedbank Cup final with three finals – 1971, 1981 and 1988 – needing replays to decide a winner.
13: Kaizer Chiefs are the record 13-time Nedbank Cup winners.
20: Kaizer Chiefs will be appearing in their 20th Nedbank Cup final, their last coming in 2019.
21: Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have met 21 times in the Nedbank Cup in all rounds of the competition. Amakhosi have nine wins in regulation time (including extra-time), with one win on penalties. The Buccaneers have seven wins, with the remaining four games ending in draws. Their last meeting was in the 2022/23 semi-final, which Orlando Pirates won 2-1 after extra-time.
23: Across their 21 previous Nedbank Cup clashes, a total of 46 goals have been scored, with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates scoring 23 goals each.
19 510 – When Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates take to the field at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the final on Saturday, 10 May, it will be 19 510 days, or 53 years and 5 months, since their first meeting in the Nedbank Cup on 11 December 1971.
Past matches in Nedbank Cup: Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates
1971
11 December 1971, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Michael Yende own goal, Pule Ntsoelengoe pen)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Gabriel Khoza, Johnny Kekana)
After extra-time
18 December 1971, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Alfred Chamane)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Petros Nzimande, Michael Dlamini)
1972
25 November 1972, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup semi-final)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 3 (Michael Dlamini 2, Ariel Kgongoane)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (MacDonald Skosana, Jomo Sono)
1974
4 November 1974, KwaMashu (Life Challenge Cup, semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (MacDonald Skosana)
1975
18 October 1975, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Pule Ntsoelengoe)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Jacob Motaung, Webster Lichaba)
After extra-time
1976
31 October 1976, Umlazi (Benson & Hedges Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Pule Ntsoelengoe)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1977
8 October 1977, Orlando (Benson & Hedges Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Ebison Mugoyo)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1981
28 November 1981, Orlando (Mainstay Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Nelson Dladla)
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Jerry Sadike)
After extra-time
5 December 1981, Orlando (Mainstay Cup Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Jomo Sono)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 (Jan Lechaba, Pule Ntsoelengoe, Leonard Likoebe)
1982
13 November 1982, Orlando (Mainstay Cup semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Pule Ntsoelengoe, Nelson Dladla)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Amos Mkhari)
1984
24 November 1984, Ellis Park (Mainstay Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Nelson Dladla penalty)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1987
15 November 1987, Ellis Park (Mainstay Cup semi-final)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Absalom Thindwa)
1988
26 November 1988, Ellis Park (Bob Save Super Bowl Final)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Orlando Pirates 0
After extra-time
3 December 1988, Ellis Park (Bob Save Super Bowl Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Basil Steenkamp, Lawrence Maake)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mike Mangena)
After extra-time
1993
13 November, 1993, Soccer City (Bob Save Super Bowl semi-final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Doctor Khumalo)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1996/97
2 November 1996, Soccer City (Bob Save Super Bowl semi-final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (David Modise)
Orlando Pirates (2) 4 (Jerry Sikhosana 3, Helman Mkhalele)
1997/98
28 March 1998, Soccer City (Bob Save Super Bowl, second round)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Sam Pam)
2005/06
20 May 2006, Kings Park (Absa Cup Final)
Orlando Pirates 0
Kaizer Chiefs 0
After extra-time
Kaizer Chiefs win 5-3 on penalties
2015/16
5 March 2016, Soccer City (Nedbank Cup first round)
Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Tendai Ndoro 2)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
2022/23
6 May 2023, Soccer City (Nedbank Cup semi-final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Maart)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Erasmus, Mthethwa)
After extra-time
Who will lift the Nedbank Cup trophy this weekend in Durban?
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