Chiefs vs Pirates on European TV

Eurosport, Europe's largest sports satellite and cable network, will televise the game to an audience that could be as high as 22.3-million households.

Commentary will be in nine languages: English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Romanian, Greek, Turkish and Norwegian, reports Southafrica.info.

With the match also being shown throughout Africa, it is expected to draw record television ratings.

The clash will be played in Durban, one day before the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw takes place in the coastal city.

As many as 3,000 guests are expected for the draw, giving them an opportunity to take in South Africa's most passionate club match and the majority of FIFA guests and journalists in Durban for the draw have requested accreditation for the derby.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of Orlando Pirates and chairman of the South African Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, reckons it is a great opportunity for Durban to show soccer fans what to expect when the World Cup is played in South Africa in 2010.

He said the importance of the Soweto derby cannot be underestimated, as it is an opportunity for South Africa to show the world that Fifa did not err in awarding the Rainbow Nation the right to host the World Cup.

Khoza believes the television deal proves that Chiefs versus Pirates is one of the greatest derbies in the soccer world.

"This confirms the power of this game," he said, "because it is, after all, in the top 10 derbies."

He also hit out at suggestions that the derby has lost its lustre, pointing to the Eurosport deal as proof that it remains a huge drawcard.

"Why would Eurosport want to televise it live in so many countries if it was not important?" he asked.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews