Amakhosi hunt down SuperSport
The league is sizzling up with wins, draws, losses and firings. There are hits and misses and coaches on the move.
And there is the Chiefs hopefully rediscovering their mojo.
The DStv Premiership has been nothing but a hot affair lately. Teams have seen some coaches get released, like French coach Romain Folz who resigned from Marumo Gallants. He has been replaced by Dan Malesela who was previously at Royal AM where things did not go according to plan. His co-coaching combination with Khabo Zondo simply did not get the Royal AM ship sailing as fast as they thought it could.
Speaking of not-so-smooth sailing, Chippa United – the Chilli Boys – have relieved Daine Klate of his duties. Chippa United's Chairman, Siviwe Mpengesi, claims that Klate is not fired but rather moved to the MDC side. According to Mpengesi when questioned on Metro FM about the latest escapades at the club that is famous for firing coaches in a wink, ”Daine was coaching the first team, the PSL team, with his MDC contract”. Morgan Mammila and Siyabulela Gwambi will be the first team's coaches in the interim and they have not done badly at all having, won their first games. They beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 and, before that, beat AmaZulu 2- 1. They have been on smooth waters rowing ahead from the bottom of the relegation spot.
Rise Khosi Rise as they hunt down Gavin’s SuperSport at home
The relegation spot has not been easy. We have seen the likes of the mighty Khosi almost relinquishing at the bottom but, with the new head coach Arthur Zwane, things are slowly turning around. On Saturday, 17 September at FNB Stadium we witnessed the Amakhosi play the brand of football that has seen the team become the biggest in the country.
Arthur’s Soweto Giants took on former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Gavin Hunt, in what would be a showdown. Chiefs were desperate to get back into winning ways after dropping much important and needed points in their previous two games. The glamour Boys of Phefeni started with the now inform Itu Khune in between the posts. The team starting included Solomons, Kwinika, Dove, the newly signed left back, Hlanti who has shown much improvement since his injury, Blom the young man who has shown much tenacity and is industrious in the middle of the park, Maart, Sithebe who is slowly but surely finding his feet, Du Preez, Sekgota, Binyeminyimana.
On the bench, it was another star-studded affair with goalkeeper Petersen, Mathoho who has not had much game time, Dolly, Amakhosi’s highest-paid player (who has not been on form but still shows why he is the man that makes the big bucks), Alexander, Nange, Frosler, Ngcobo, Mashiane, Radebe. With a substitution line up likethis, things were supposed to heat up.
SuperSport United started with what has become their go-to starting line-up and formation. SuperSport United XI: Goss (the former Mamelodi Sundowns man has been getting game time and putting effort in), Nhlapho, Johannes, and Hlatshwayo who, since leaving Orlando Pirates, is returning to his old self, Ditlhokwe, Bhasera, Mbatha, Maseko, Margeman, Lungu, Grobler. Speaking of Grobler, this man had a couple of chance that he should have buried.
On the bench were: Chigova, Fleurs, Ndlovu, Donn, Rayners, Ngoma, Webber, Sibanyoni, and Gabuza, who has not seen too much game time under Gavin Hunt’s return.
Babize Bonke: Saturday night football is just how we like it
During the pre-match interview Arthur Zwane told the Kaizer Chiefs website, “We are obviously going into the game looking for maximum points.” He continued, “When it comes to results, they’ve been blowing hot and cold.”
The game kicked off at 8:00 pm. It only took 14:47 seconds for Grant Margeman to try a shot with his left foot and BOOM! It went in, leaving the keeper diving to his left side but simply not being able to reach the ball.
Fans were stunned and so was the Kaizer Chiefs' defence. SuperSport took the lead and it was game on. In the 21st minute, SuperSport got another chance through a corner kick. The kick swung from the left and into the goalposts and Hlatshwayo missed the opportunity.
Kaizer Chiefs came back fighting and in the 34th minute, they were denied by goalkeeper Goss. Amakhosi remained relentless. It was at the 39th minute when striker Bonfils-Caleb Binyeminyimana put the ball in the back of the net from a cross coming from the left from Du Preez. He scored five minutes before the break for halftime. The big striker looks like he will be able to help Amakhosi score goals. Just six minutes into the kick-off of the second half, SuperSport found themselves wanting. It was a push from behind on Maart. The big man Bonfils-Caleb Binyeminyimana showed composure and picked his spot and scored.
The game was now really sizzling hot.
SuperSport gave the game their all – mara it was not to be. Their final chance came through a cross at 92 minutes with the ref's optional time being 4 more minutes added on. The final whistle blew and, finally, Arthur Zwane beat his former boss and mentor, Gavin Hunt. Kaizer chiefs win yet another home game. The team stats showed that it was almost an evenly matched game. Amakhosi had 16 shots with 4 on target while SuperSport United had 12 shots with 4 on target. Kaizer Chiefs dominated the game with 57% ball possession, 375 passes, and a 76% pass accuracy. SuperSport United had 43% of the ball possession, 270 passes, and 64% pass accuracy. Matsatsantsa went back home with 2 yellow cards.
Mzansi is talking, the black and gold have started to raise their voices, is this the return of the Soweto Giant? Is this the return of the Glamour Boys? Time will tell but the team is gelling well. As for Gavin Hunt, he is also building, unfortunately, he is building a much younger and inexperienced side.
What a game of diski, whenever Matsatsantsa a Pitori meet Amakhosi it is a game worth watching every second of it