Chiefs are in trouble!
Mzansi football is back! The DStv Premier League has returned and what a tricky few games for both the reigning champs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.
The league started on Saturday, 6 August with Kaizer Chiefs taking on Mamkhize’s Royal AM, led by the newly announced co-coaching combination of Khabo Zondo, who returns from the wilderness and the seasoned Premier league coach, Dan “Dance” Masilela.
Royal AM took on the new and improved line-up of Kaizer Chiefs led by Arthur Zwane, the highest-paid coach in Mzansi football. The game ended in a defeat for Amakhosi Amahle, losing to Royal AM 1-0. Not the way Coach Arthur would have wanted to start the season.
Amakhosi had to recharge and bounce back with immediate effect. On the 9th of August, Kaizer Chiefs strapped their boots and took on Maritzburg at home, FNB Stadium, also popularly known as Soccer City. Amakhosi came back more convincingly, thrashing Maritzburg United 3-0. The newly signed striker, Ashley Du Preez, scored his first goal on debut for the team only four minutes into the game. Team captain, Keagan Dolly scored in the 24th minute followed by another debutant, 18-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala, scoring during the ref's optional time. This was the Chiefs that fans remember and miss. So, heading towards the match against the reigning champions, they were filled with confidence on and off the field. Warning shots were fired by the Amakhosi faithful as they kept saying,” Ayeye Masandawana Ayeye!”
Champions ‘Downs are looking up, but…
Mamelodi Sundowns kicked off their league challenge on Friday, 05 August. They were up against a team that always gives them problems – Eric Tinkler’s Cape Town City.
It was the first game of the season and an away match for Mamelodi Sundowns at a packed and full of life Cape Town Stadium. The current champions carried on where they left off with a solid performance, winning 2-0. Aubrey Modiba netted a beautiful free kick at the 61st meeting followed by Themba Zwane two minutes later at the 63rd minute. This time around the Citizens were not up to the challenge.
Off to the next one, against TS Galaxy on Wednesday, 10 August, a home game at Loftus Versveld. The game started sluggishly but picked up pace with TS Galaxy having a well-executed plan. In the 34th minute, Lefa Hlongwane of TS Galaxy stunned the Versveld crowd and the rest of Mzansi with a stunning goal. BOOM! TS Galaxy 1 – Mamelodi Sundowns 0. Looking desperate, Downs kept playing the ball with no luck. The final whistle was blown and it was done, Sundowns suffering an unexpected defeat. How would they reply to their next match against Kaizer Chiefs who were on a high after their victory.
Fans’ money was on Chiefs
The banter had already started way before the first kick. The chimes and songs were created and the date was set, Saturday, 13 August and it was going down in Pretoria. Sundowns had the home game advantage playing in front of their home crowd, the Ka Bo Yellow nation. Before the game even started, crowds had packed the stadium and, in a surprise announcement, one of their own – former star midfielder Bongani Zungu – was revealed as a new Sundowns player. Bongani has made a return after six years of plying his trade in Europe and winning the league with the Scottish club, Rangers. This set the tone for what would be a day full of shock and surprises.
The kick-off was at 15:00 with Victor Gomes being the referee of this big occasion. Mamelodi Sundowns started with their new goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, between the posts. Rushine De Reuck, Andile Jali (who captained the side), Brian Onyango, and Mudau marshalled the defence with Jali assisting the midfield. Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, and Neo Maema controlled the midfield with Modiba, Sirino, and Peter Shalulile attacking.
Kaizer Chiefs started with Bruce Bavuma as the goalie. Njabulo Blom, Zitha Kwinika, Siyabonga Ngezana, and Reeve Fosler shored up the defense. The midfield was occupied by Yusuf Maart, the experienced Cole Alexander, Siyethemba Sithebe, and Dillan Solomons. The one-of-a-kind combination of Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly took on the role of strikers hoping to bring back the glory days they once shared together.
Kaizer Chiefs kicked off. Sundowns started pressing from the onset, putting pressure on the KC defence. A mistake was bound to happen and, at the 6th minute, it did. Goalie Bavuma passed to defender Kwinika who passed to Ngezana inside the box. Sirino crept from the middle of the park to put pressure on Ngezana who fumbled his first touch and under pressure tried to pass back to the goalie but it was too late. Sirino snuck in, stole the ball, and it was a goal! Sundowns 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs. What a mistake, trying to play out from the back. Chiefs had panicked as pressure piled from Sundowns.
At the 15th minute, Neo Maema turned Siyethemba Sithebe and gave a champagne pass to Peter Shalulile who was already in the middle of the box. Ngezana fouled Shalulile and without any hesitation, Victor Gomes pointed to the spot. Penalty! In a case of mistaken identity or foul mouth from the player, Kwinika got a yellow card instead of Ngenzana. Peter Shalulile took the spot kick with confidence and BAM! Sundowns 2! No one was expecting this in the first half.
The “Namibian assassin” was up and running with a goal. Amakhosi tried attacking and playing from the flanks. In the 49th minute, Reeve Fosler missed a clear-cut chance, leaving Coach Zwane taking off his glasses not believing his eyes.
‘Downs continue to dominate in the 2nd
The second half started with Sundowns building from the back, playing their typical one-way traffic inter-passing style. It didn’t take long for Peter Shalulile to find the back of the net. HALAGASHA! Peter scores again! He got his second goal with an assist coming from the ever-green Themba “Mshishi” Zwane. Kaizer Chiefs allowed Mamelodi Sundowns to play from the back right up to the front and score without much difficulty.
This pushed some Amakhosi fans to slowly walk out of the stadium, a sight we have not seen in years.
Class was in session with lessons being learnt. Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Kaizer Chiefs at the 52 minute mark!
Mamelodi Sundowns made a substitution by introducing Abubeker Nassir, the Ethiopian international, who made an immediate effect. The dribbling wizard made an impact, dribbling his way into the penalty box and scoring in the 75th minute. What a way to introduce himself! Even if Khama Billiat had scored the second-half penalty, 13 August was not Amakhosi’s day. The current champions were just superior.
Game over!
Prrr, Prrr, Prrr Victor Gomes blew the final whistle three times after 2 additional minutes. It was game over. Too much for KC to handle. School was out and it was game over for the students and kudos to the masters of the day.
As we all witnessed, Amakhosi are in the building phase, the team is yet to gel but will need to bounce back soon for their coach and fans’ sake. They had their fair chances but the strongest team won. Once again, last season's Top Goal scorer Peter Shalulile bagged the man of the match trophy after an amazing performance.
Mamelodi Sundowns proved that class is forever and form is temporary.