For all the power of attraction that the Soweto derby carries, former Orlando Pirates striker Fikru Tefera has revealed how he came to be shocked that there was a player who was frightened by playing in this contest.
Tefera featured in the derby that was played at the old FNB Stadium in December 2006 prior to the venue being pulled down to build the current facility.
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At that time, the Ethiopian was 20 having just arrived from St. George in the previous transfer window.
"I already knew about the derby but on that day (December 9, 2006), I got to have firsthand experience of this fixture because everything changed in the week leading to that match," Tefera tells KickOff.com.
"The derby is a game that can define a player's season because it will be spoken about for a long time since everyone gets to watch it.
"Some players might find themselves getting into the Bafana Bafana team for the AFCON just because of this game.
"In as much as everyone wants to play the derby there are some players who are scared of this fixture," discloses Tefera.
"When I was at Pirates, I got to know of one of our players who was shivering and didn't want to be in the starting line-up.
"He literally begged to be not included in the starting XI.
"I was surprised that there would be a player who 'chickens out' of such a match.
"With me, I would want to play even if I have bruises on my leg because I wanted to be part of that atmosphere on the day.
"I don't want to mention his name, but I found it rather strange that you can be a footballer and yet not have the bravery to part of the biggest matches.
"Having played in the big game here in Ethiopia between St. George and Coffee, I can to Pirates knowing that I wanted to play in the Soweto derby which I did.
"The Soweto derby has a wide pull to it here in Africa because just about everyone watches it.
"I know there is the derby in Cairo between Al Ahly and Zamalek, but it doesn't appeal to the rest of the continent like the Soweto derby which has a pull factor through the whole of Sub-Sahara Africa.
"I don't know how the current players view the derby, but I wish they realise that they need to deliver a top display in this game.
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"Fans need goals and I hope on Saturday, the two teams will deliver the goals because that is what brings the fans to the stadium.
"If it ends as a draw, then it has to be a scoring draw," says Tefera.