We hope you have your derby tickets

BY THE time you read this, tickets for the Soweto derby between arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates may have been sold out already.

That is because by yesterday only 8000 tickets were still available at Computicket oulets.

The much-anticipated match is scheduled for Soccer City on Saturday, December 8. Excitement for the game was fuelled over the weekend when Absa Premiership log leaders Amakhosi tasted their first defeat of the campaign when they lost 2-0 to unheralded Platinum Stars in Rustenburg.

On the other hand, second-placed Pirates narrowed the gap to one point after a 2-0 victory over Bidvest Wits in a later match, also on Saturday.

Chiefs have amassed 27 points while defending champions Pirates are on 26 points after 12 rounds. The Christmas break bragging rights are also high on both clubs' supporters priorities.

Bucs spokesman Mickey Modisane yesterday called on the club's supporters to snap up the remaining tickets for the middle sphere upper level at a cost of R150 each.

He said: "The tickets have gone so fast that we fear we may have to put up the sold-out signs by midday today. We had 87000 tickets available for the game and, besides the 8000 left, everything else is gone. Only the hospitality suite tickets are still available at R1800 each from Sail and Stadium Management."

Modisane also urged The Ghost (Pirates supporters) to wear their red replica jerseys in order for them to stand out and match their Chiefs counterparts "pound for pound".

"We call on them to sit on the opposite side of the players' tunnel so that they can see and give them a big cheer when they emerge for the kickoff. We are also going to open the gates as early as 10am and there will be entertainment galore so that they are kept busy and not bored before the start of the game in the afternoon."

Modisane pointed out that their league match against Chippa United scheduled for the Wednesday before the derby, December 5, has been moved from Cape Town Stadium to Athlone Stadium on the same day and kickoff time is at 7.30pm.

Pirates will have a roadshow in Cape Town from the Monday before and after the game against the Chilli Boys as a build-up to the derby.