‘A dream’: Botlhale Boikanyo reflects on her Soweto Derby performance [Video]

Actress and poet Botlhale Boikanyo expressed her joy after bringing her poetry to the Soweto Derby on Saturday. She shared a video of the event on social media, thanking the opportunity to display her work at one of South Africa's biggest sporting events. Boikanyo also mentioned her honor of introducing French football legend Thierry Henry as he took the field.

"A dream! Yesterday, I got to take my poetry to the Soweto Derby," she captioned the video. Boikanyo had traveled to the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this year to advocate for women and girls in sports. She reflected on how performing at the Soweto Derby after visiting the tournament felt like a full-circle moment. "To now find myself on a stage of this magnitude, using my own voice to contribute to a moment in our sporting history, feels incredibly full circle," she shared.

Boikanyo also emphasized the significance of giving poetry a place at major sporting events. "I'm reminded that our voices can take us to places we never imagined, and that poetry belongs in every space where stories are being told and history is being made," she wrote. The 2026 Soweto Derby took place at FNB Stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg.

Orlando Pirates won against Kaizer Chiefs with goals from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi. Pule Mmodi scored the only goal for Chiefs.