A Long-Awaited Moment for the 24-Year-Old Defender
Kaizer Chiefs centre-back Bradley Cross is on the verge of a career-defining milestone as he eyes his first appearance in the Soweto Derby, one of Africa’s most fiercely contested football clashes. The 24-year-old hopes to make his debut against Orlando Pirates this Saturday at the iconic FNB Stadium.
“It is a huge occasion, and to be part of the Derby has been an ambition of mine,” said Cross. “If I get to play in my first Derby on Saturday, I’ll consider it a big achievement.”
Refocusing After a Tough Loss
Chiefs head into the derby after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Marumo Gallants, their 11th league loss of the season. Despite the setback, Cross remains focused on the upcoming challenge.
“We all feel like we didn’t play to the best of our abilities, but that is behind us now, and we are looking forward to the game on the weekend,” he said.
From Watching to Playing the Derby
Cross, who grew up admiring Soweto Derby legends like Siphiwe Tshabalala, shared how much it would mean to him to step onto the pitch this Saturday.
“It will be a dream come true to play in the Soweto Derby. It’s the biggest match in the country by miles, and I have watched it since I was young,” he said.
Blocking Out Distractions and Staying Grounded
While excitement builds among fans and the media, Cross remains grounded, emphasising the importance of staying focused.
“You just have to block out all the noise and focus on what you have to do. My family are all around and support me, which means a lot, but you can’t allow distractions to interfere with the objective.”
Chiefs Focus on Themselves Despite Pirates’ Momentum
Acknowledging the Buccaneers’ strong recent form, Cross insisted that Chiefs must remain inwardly focused.
“Obviously, they have been doing well recently. We respect them as opponents and acknowledge their ability, but I feel we need to focus more on ourselves and getting to where we want to be,” he said.
A Pledge to the Amakhosi Faithful
Cross ended with a powerful message to Kaizer Chiefs supporters:
“One thing I can promise our fans is that we will leave everything out there in an effort to get the win. Their support will help us a lot—we need them there to drive us on.”
The Soweto Derby kicks off at 15:00 this Saturday at FNB Stadium.
