Johannesburg – More than 80 000 tickets have already been sold for the Premiership derby featuring Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on December 8, according to Pirates' official website on Monday.
“We are used to having sell-outs for the big Soweto derby against Chiefs,” the website reported.
“But for this kind of rush, almost two weeks before the game, is unprecedented. What is usually the case, is that the fans wait until the last minute to obtain their seats and then there is a mad rush.”
Pirates were expecting the fixture to sell-out within the next 24 hours.
Seats priced at R40 and R60 have already sold out and only the reserved seats at R150, as well as suite packages, were still available.
Chiefs suffered their first league loss of the season, from 12
matches, when Platinum Stars beat them 2-0 in Rustenburg on Saturday, while Pirates claimed a 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits.
The two-time defending champions were now only a point behind their traditional rivals, after Chiefs had appeared to be running away with the league campaign.
“Now we sense the opportunity to reinforce the challenge for a third successive championship,” the Pirates website added.
“A win over Chiefs is likely to restore our position at the top of the log.”
Both Pirates and Chiefs will be without a game this weekend because of the Telkom Cup Final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night, but the Soweto giants had one more Premiership match before December 8.
The Amakhosi take on Ajax Cape Town next week, while Pirates meet Chippa United. – Sapa