The 2005 – 2006 season might not have produced many talking points for The Amakhosi, were it not for their hat-trick of victories against arch rivals, Orlando Pirates, in back to back league games as well as the ABSA Cup Final.

Ranking as the high point of Chiefs' last season, indeed it was the first time since the inception of the PSL back in 1996, that any of the two teams had been able to win both the home and away games in a regular season.

Amongst Chiefs famous treble of victories over their Soweto rivals last season, was the goal-scoring exploits of The Amakhosi’s Ugandan international captain, David Obua, who scored in both of Chiefs league victories over Pirates in 05-06.

As the first official Soweto derby of the new season approaches, there will be a lot of talk of Obua’s heroics from last term, but will the lanky talisman be able to handle the pressure ahead of Saturday’s all important PSL clash?

Kaizerchiefs.com caught up with David Obua upon his return from Durban on Thursday and got his views and thoughts as Chiefs prepare to face Pirates.

KC.COM: Last season you stole the show against Pirates, do you feel based on those performances you are under pressure to put up the same kind of show you did last season. On a personal level are you feeling any pressure?




DO: Once you have set a standard, people always expect you to adhere to the high standard that you set for yourself. Having scored twice against them last season means only one thing: That I need to improve on what was achieved against Pirates a year ago.

The bar has been set higher and I need to pole-vault it. Even if I do not score against them, I need to ensure that I contribute a whole lot to the game on Saturday.

When it comes to the issue of pressure, I would be lying to you if I told you I was not feeling any. A game against Pirates is a huge fixture given all that is at stake and the fact that the entire nation comes to a stand-still to watch the game. Taking all that into account, I still do believe that once I get to the stadium all the worry is gone, and all I want to do is play.

KC.COM: As a team, how are the guys approaching the game?




DO: With cautious optimism. One needs to be confident of your ability to outsmart your opponent, especially in a game of this magnitude, not forgetting the kind of rivalry and history shared between the two teams.

Also on the other hand you want to be boastful, even though we have had the better of them recently, the team is level headed going into the game. We are aware of the magnitude of the task at hand and will approach the game with a positive frame of mind.

Also remembering that we have a duty to respect our opponents and another duty to get the better of the opposition for our fans. I think that having climbed over the mid-week hurdle which was Amazulu, without any hitches has really helped to lift our game in the same way that it has propelled us up the table.

KC.COM: Of the three games Chiefs played against Pirates, which would you say was the toughest?




DO: It has to be the ABSA Cup Final. The thing about that game was that because they dominated play for such lengthy periods of time during the game, we had to defend for almost the entire first half. They kept on attacking us and we had to fight wave after wave of the Pirates' attack.

There was a time when I thought that they were just going to over run us with all the pressure. With whatever was thrown at us, we managed to hold on and win the game that shows that a strong part to winning the Soweto derby is a team’s ability to regroup even when they are under barrage after barrage of attack.

KC.COM: Which of the three games did you most enjoy?




DO: Well I would say all of them, but in particular the first game as it was the first time I had participated in such a game and the atmosphere and excitement was really something to behold.

Opening the scoring in the game helped make the occasion and extra special one. The thing is that winning against Pirates is sweet all the same whether it is a league, cup or friendly game.

KC.COM: Going into this game the team has won their last three league games, do you think that the guys will be able to keep up with their winning ways and record their fourth straight league victory?




DO. I feel that right now we are an improving team. We have definitely put behind us our poor start to the season, a lot was required from a number of guys, including myself, and in the last couple of games I feel that the entire team has stood up and been counted. When it comes to winning the game, whoever is more determined will win. These kind of games don’t depend on how many chances you have, but on converting the half chances that come your way.

KC.COM: With the game just about two days away, what messages do you have for the supporters?


DO: Come to the game and enjoy yourselves, respect the opposition supporters and get behind us no matter what the state of the play is. Believe me when I say that the encouragement from the supporters can really lift the team.