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Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe is already thinking about the Soweto Derby against bitter rivals Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday

Written by Brooklyn Masuku on 20 February, 2023

The former AmaZulu player has won back his place in the Kaizer Chiefs team after a sterling performance against log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

The KwaZulu-Natal-born midfielder has always dreamt of featuring in the Soweto derby but was not selected for last October’s match which Chiefs won 1-0 when coach Arthur Zwane went for Yusuf Maart and Njabulo Blom.

Sithebe who is hoping to be in the starting line-up said playing in the Soweto Derby has always been his dream.

“Obviously we’re playing the derby next week. I am happy that now I am starting [games] coming into the derby. As a player you must be well prepared because playing the derby isn’t easy,” Sithebe said during a media open day at Naturena.

Sethebe joined Amakhosi from AmaZulu in the off-season and he has also opened about his return to the XI after being out of favor in the past three months.

When I was introduced in the game against Sundowns, I had already read the game from the bench, I knew that the team needed someone who’d build up…and I did that because that’s what I know…I was just being myself.

He initially struggled to get into the team with Maart and Blom preferred but he has grabbed his opportunities with both hands, especially at the turn of the year, with some eye-catching performances.

His quality on the ball plus forward runs have added dynamism to Chiefs’ game and he will be needed to produce that in droves against Jose Riveiro’s men.

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