FILE - Collins Mbesuma, pictured here playing for Orlando Pirates, is one of many players who have played for both Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates.
Image: Etienne Rothbart / Independent Newspapers
The biggest fixture in South African football is upon us, with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates' bitter rivalry spilling onto the field at the FNB Stadium in the Soweto derby on Saturday afternoon.
It's a fixture that divides the nation, but yet there are many examples of players who have featured for both teams. Some have had success, while others flattered to deceive in the bright spotlight caused by the teams' popularity.
IOL Sport looks at the fascinating journeys of five of the "traitors" who have donned the jerseys of both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, two of South Africa's most storied football clubs.
Born in Meadowlands, Soweto, Maponyana joined Chiefs at the age of 19 in 1981 and spent 10 glorious years with Amakhosi. Maponyane is Chiefs’ all-time leading goal-scorer and also captained the club between 1985 and 1988.
The Rolls Royce of South African strikers joined Dynamos from Chiefs, but made the shock move to Pirates after just one season. The Bafana striker’s goals then propelled Pirates to the league title in 1994 and CAF Champions League crown in 1995.
The late Sizwe Motaung was the first player in the PSL era to move between the two teams after swapping Chiefs for Pirates in the 2000-01 season. The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner was one of the finest right-backs of his generation and joined Chiefs from La Liga outfit Tenerife.
However, he spent just two years at Amakhosi before making the move to bitter rivals Pirates. However, Motaung’s life was cut short in his prime after passing away due to an AIDS-related illness.
Zambian hitman Mbesuma had the most unbelievable debut season in the PSL, scoring a record 25 goals in the league for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004-05 season. He also scored 35 goals in 33 games in all competitions before being whisked away to Portsmouth in England.
After leaving Chiefs, Mbesuma never hit those sensational numbers again, and turned into a bit of a journeyman by joining several clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows. Chiefs’ fierce rivals, Pirates, also took a chance on the burly striker in 2012, but he left after just two seasons.
It’s hard to believe that Mr Kaizer Chiefs Tau once played for the Buccaneers. Tau signed for Orlando Pirates ahead of the 2002-03 campaign after a stellar couple of seasons with Maritzburg City. He went on to win the league with Pirates in his first season with the club.
However, after unhappiness surrounding his salary, Tau jumped ship to Chiefs, where he ended up becoming a club legend. The defender went on to captain Chiefs during his eight-year stay at the club, winning two Nedbank Cup trophies, two MTN8s, three League Cups, and the 2012-13 2013 Premiership title.
Both Chiefs and Pirates both claimed they had signed the talented striker from Maritzburg City ahead of the 2009-09 season, and the matter had to be resolved at the Premier Soccer League's dispute resolution chamber.
Pirates claimed that they had signed Mthembu first, even though he had been training with Chiefs since the start of the season. The PSL's dispute resolution chamber ended up agreeing with Pirates, even though Mthembu said he never signed a contract with the Buccaneers. He played three seasons with Pirates, and eventually joined Chiefs a few seasons later.
Jimmy Tau
Marks Maponyane
Sizwe Motaung
Jabu Mahlangu (Pule)
Collins Mbesuma
Pollen Ndlanya
Ace Khuse
Lehlohonolo Majoro
Stanton Fredericks
Siphelele Mthembu
Marc Batchelor
Gert Schalkwyk
William Twala
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