Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal derby between AmaZulu and Lamontville Golden Arrows has the potential to be one of the biggest local rivalries in the coming years, says AmaZulu coach Cavin Johnson.
Usuthu and Abafana Bes'thende will meet in a mouth-watering clash at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on December 22.
Johnson believes that the tussle between the two sides has the potential to be one of the best, but it is yet to reach that level.
"It hasn't reached its peak as yet. I've been here for two seasons now. The derbies haven't reached their peak as yet in KZN. I think there's a lot more potential than what we had last year. When you look at the 4-1 result, I don't think it was a good reflection of the game. If you look at the 2-1 outcome, it was jab for jab. They won the first one and we won the second one. They won at home and we won at home," Johnson said.
The Soweto derby (Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs) is the biggest right now in Mzansi and it is followed by the Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United.
"We are starting at home. I think our derbies in KZN can have a bigger success rate than we are currently having. “Hopefully we can start this year by at least getting more people into the stadium. Get more yellow and gold on one side and green on the other side and really show the rest of South Africa what a derby is all about, " he added.
Johnson wants to see the rivalry in the stands during the KZN derby.
"We need to separate the two supporters and make sure that you scream to push your team. This is what I would like to see happening going forward in the derby, besides the players going out on the field and fighting with each other. Have one side with yellow and gold and have the other green and let us see who can scream the hardest to push their teams," Johnson said.
Match day experience for soccer fans: Kick For A Million
To build on the success of the competition from last season, Absa is once again changing many lives through the Kick for Million competition throughout the 2018/19 Absa Premiership season.
We closed out the last Absa Premiership season with a life-changing moment when a lucky football fan, Steven Chauke, participated in the Kick for a Million competition and took home R1 million in cash.
The now popular and unique Kick for a Million competition reached the halfway mark at the recent Absa Premiership Woza Nazo Tshwane Derby. Heading into the Durban Derby, Absa is looking for the sixth finalist for the competition that will stand a chance to win big.
To date, we have had winning finalists following Woza Nazo matches in Polokwane, Cape Town, Bethlehem, Soweto and most recently in Tshwane earlier this month. In total, we have had 7, 391 fans register for the Kick for a Million in the previous Woza Nazo matches.
How does the Kick For A Million competition work?
On match day, six fans are chosen ahead of the start of the game at the respective stadium to kick against an Absa Premiership legendary goalkeeper in a sudden death competition during halftime.
At the end of the contest, each runner-up will receive R1,000 and the winner of the round will take home R5,000.
The winner of the final round then automatically becomes a finalist to Kick for a Million at the trophy handover match at the end of the season in May 2019.
In the build-up to the match Absa will host roadshows in Umlazi on Thursday, December 20 at Mega City Mall from 1pm to 5pm and Friday, December 21 at Eyadini Lounge from 3pm – 5pm.
And on match day, Absa will be bringing fans the ultimate match day experience through the Woza Nazo Absa Red Zone, where over a 1 000 soccer fans will get access to an exclusive area where there will be entertainment, food, refreshments and Woza Nazo merchandise ahead of the match.
The Absa Red Zone will be located on the outer field at King Zwelithini stadium, and open from 12pm until 2.30pm on December 22.