Thierry Henry's Soweto Derby Comments Spark Debate Among Pirates and Chiefs Fans
- Thierry Henry expressed surprise after being told Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs supporters sit close to each other during the Soweto Derby
- The former Arsenal striker said rival supporters are usually separated at other derbies he has experienced
- South African football fans shared contrasting opinions, with some defending the tradition and others questioning it
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Thierry Henry has sparked a debate among South African football supporters after sharing his thoughts on one of the Soweto Derby's most distinctive traditions.
Source: Getty Images
The former Arsenal and France striker was surprised to learn that Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs supporters can sit close to each other at the stadium despite their fierce rivalry.
Speaking during an interview with Robert Marawa on Radio 947 ahead of Saturday's blockbuster encounter at FNB Stadium, Henry explained that the arrangement was unusual compared with what he had experienced at other football derbies.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner admitted that he was keen to witness the tradition for himself, as he had been told that supporters of the two Soweto giants sometimes sit alongside one another.
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His observations have since prompted different reactions from football fans, with some celebrating the unity among supporters while others believe the rivalry should be reflected in how fans are seated.
What Thierry Henry said about Pirates and Chiefs fans
Henry explained that he had been informed about the unusual arrangement between rival supporters at the Soweto Derby.
"I've been told that, you know, the two sets of fans merge. They sit, you know, close to each other, which I want to see," he said.
The former Barcelona and Arsenal forward added that he found the arrangement surprising because supporters are generally separated at other derbies he had experienced.
"I'm not saying that in a bad way. It's just something that when I was like, what do you mean? They go together. Normally you have to separate the stands. They go from different angles, different ways," Henry explained.
Watch the interview on the post on X.
He acknowledged that this was one of the things that made the Soweto Derby unique and said he wanted to experience it first-hand.
Henry is in South Africa for the clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Betway confirmed his attendance as part of its activities surrounding the fixture, which also forms part of the Premier Soccer League's 30th-anniversary celebrations.
Henry's observations prompted a lively discussion on X, where football supporters offered different perspectives on whether rival fans should sit together during the Soweto Derby.
One supporter, B.E.N.Z.O, questioned the arrangement, arguing that the two sets of supporters should be separated.
Responding to another user who pointed out that South African supporters had moved on from the violence of previous generations, he wrote:
"We can't be held ransom by something that happened long in the past. We are a new generation."
He also described sitting alongside Chiefs supporters at the stadium as an unpleasant experience.
However, not everyone agreed with his position.
Raymond Monty Maboea argued that the tradition demonstrated how far the country had come, considering the lives lost during the rivalry's violent past.
"We've come a long way, and many lives were lost due to the rivalry," he wrote.
He added that having rival supporters sitting together was a testament to how peaceful South Africa had become.
Another supporter, Tinyiko, argued that the shared seating arrangement was part of what made the fixture special, recalling how fans used to fight when they were not separated. The discussion also extended to families supporting different teams.
One user pointed out that it would be impractical for family members supporting Pirates and Chiefs to sit separately when attending the match together.
Da Cruz speaks English ahead of Soweto Derby
Briefly News previously reported that Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz caught South African football fans by surprise after speaking English during a media interview.
The French tactician addressed the media in English on Thursday, 29 October, as he shared his thoughts on the importance of the fixture and his team's preparations for Saturday's showdown at FNB Stadium.
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Source: Briefly News
