It was a thrilling counter attacking game as City were sitting back and waiting for the counter as Chiefs piled on the pressure for most of the game.
This was a chance for Amakhosi to take to the top of the table should they have won the game. There were no goals scored and a lot of close shaves. Coach Steve Komphela had this to say:
“Polokwane City didn’t make it easy for us in as much as we controlled the game. There was a chance with [Rodney] Ramagalela with a header inside the box and another one where [Rendani] Ndou had a turn inside the box, Itu [Khune] kept us in the game. We also had chances where I think the match could have gone either way.
“We always want to win every match, it’s just a pity we couldn’t win this one. We have to look forward. There’s nothing we can do about this 90 minutes, it’s gone. We have to look back and check what areas we could have done better. There’s one chance of Pule Ekstein and another from ‘Shabba’ [Siphiwe Tshabalala], those chances do count. You get one of those chances then the whole story changes. But we’ll take a point.”
The boys from Naturena will have to take a point and start preparing for their Telkom Knockout match on the weekend.
]]>Pirates and Chiefs played to a 0-0 draw at the FNB Stadium where fans came in their numbers to witness the Soweto derby.
“Look it is disappointing to end any match without getting the desired results. Just like the game against Pirates. We played well and obviously the aim was to go out and win but it was not so at the end of the day,” said Shabba.
After their impressive win against Mamelodi Sundowns he feels they should have done better as there is no excuse towards the supporters who came to watch the match.
“The supporters are the ones that came out there to support the team and there is no excuse for us not to deliver eye catching football.
I do hope that they know that we give our all and it is not easy to just get things going your way. It was a tough match like many other games we play, it is just unfortunate that we did not score or win. Besides that we keep our heads up and continue working.”
Chiefs are now placed 4th on the log with 13 points from 9 matches played. They are a point behind Orlando Pirates who have the same number of games. Amakhosi next play Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 31 October.
]]>Sundowns welcomed Chiefs in Pretoria and were surely the favourites on the day. They controlled most of the ball position but could not break through the resilient Chiefs defence.
Bernard Parker got close to opening the scoring after 26 minutes of play with a powerful right footed shot that hit the crossbar. But the rest of the half was a move, counter move experience as supporters watched on in anticipation.
In the second half Siyabonga Ngezana opened the scoring for Komphela’s charges five minutes after the halftime break with a header.
Parker made it two goals for Chiefs when he controlled on his right inside the box to coolly pick his spot with a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. It was all for Sundowns to do after that.
Sundowns were reduced to ten men after Tiyane Mabunda received his marching orders for a second yellow card. Though in the 80th minute matters turned in favour of Downs as Eric Mathoho fouled Percy Tau in the box for a penalty to be awarded.
Themba Zwane made no mistake and sent Itumeleng Khune to the wrong side to make it 2-1. Chiefs held on to their lead and the match finished as 2-1 with Chiefs taking all three points.
]]>Siphiwe Tshabalala says that the players need to be more focused as opponents always play to prove a point against Chiefs.
“Look the game was a tough one. Whenever we play, we always have to be at our best and that is the unfortunate truth when you play for Chiefs. We tried our best but it was not to be on the day.
We just have to keep going and deal more precise with all remaining games of the season. We have to be focused because everyone tries to prove a point whenever they play against us. It’s a loss, we take it on the chin and move on,” said Shabba.
Chiefs have now go into the international break with a duty to go back to the drawing board and prepare for a heavy encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns on 17 October.
]]>Two goals by Gustavo Paez sealed a second win of the season for Amakhosi as they look to be returning to their winning ways to the relief of Steve Komphela.
For most of the match Maritzburg looked to be the most likely of the teams to come out with a victory with how much they were attacking but it was not to be.
Steve Komphela was heard giving praise to the intelligence of Fadlu Davids for his efforts in what was an entertaining match: “Before one could make any remarks about the game, compliments must be given for Fadlu Davids,” Steve mentioned.
“This guy is intelligent. When you come here, you are across somebody that you can see what he is doing. It’s not easy to play this team, we knew coming here it was going to be very difficult.
“Their break attacks are lethal but I’m happy with how we coped and Itu [Khune] was highly concentrated.
“There were stages centrally where I thought defensively we lacked a bit of confidence. We were giving some hope to the opponent and in the dressing room we told them in the second half we need to a goal to kill it. We don’t want to suffer the same setback we suffered in the last match.
“It was an exciting match, not good for us as coaches but I just said to Fadlu Davids, whatever he puts in his prayers, he must pray for more wisdom, this guy is intelligent.”
Chiefs move 5th on the log table with two wins, two draws and a one loss. They have a total of 8 points.
]]>Chiefs who had just defeated Cape Town City a few days earlier were looking to continue collecting maximum points but had a tall mountain to climb as Wits were also searching for their first three points of the season.
In the first half of the match Wits looked the better side creating more chances than the home team. Itumeleng Khune was called into action 10 minutes in as he made a save after a header from Amr Gamal. He continued to aid Chiefs when he made a double save from a Daylon Claasen and Amr shot consecutively.
With just a few minutes remaining in the second half, the Clever Boys were reduced to 10 men when Nazeer Allie was sent off for a second bookable offence.
In the second half Chiefs made use of the extra man as Kgotso Moleko found Siphiwe Tshabalala who pin pointed his shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Wits never gave up though as Vincent Pule’s shot hit the top of the crossbar as they tried to level matters. Gavin Hunt responded by introducing Ben Motshwari, Phumlani Ntshangase and Gabadinho Mhango to put more pressure on a Chiefs team that looked to defend their lead.
Wits eventually found the equaliser in stoppage time, as Gamal controlled well before firing a fine effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The match ended 1-1 to the disbelief of many Amakhosi supporters.
]]>It was a thrilling encounter that saw City lose by two goals to none as they tried pressing Chiefs from the start to the end. In the first half it was more of a midfield battle as both teams could not have sufficient shots at goal.
City looked the more comfortable on the ball but suffered a loss in the replacement of Teko Modise who succumbed to a groin injury after 17 minutes. Bhongolwethu Jayiya came close to scoring in the 34th minute but his shot hit the post.
Chiefs broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, as Tshabalala showed great composure to fire into the bottom corner from 12 yards out. City looked to hit back in the 57th minute through a close range shot by Masina but Khune made a great save.
Lehlohonolo Majoro almost got the better of a rejuvenated looking Khune in the 67th minute but the shot stopper made a double save to deny him.
Chiefs then put the nail to the coffin when they broke in the 81st minute and Gorge Maluleka gave a through ball to the 17 years old Meyiwa to calmly place the ball in the bottom left of the net.
Chiefs move to 9th position on the log with four points from three games played.
]]>Amakhosi defeated Township Rollers 2-0 before they went on to defeat Free State Stars 1-0 in the final and lift the honors.
One may say that this will be a confidence booster for Steve Komphela’s men as they look to make the upcoming season one to celebrate. Having gone two seasons without silverware it will be to their best interest to start collecting some trophies for the dusty cabinet.
Chiefs now look ahead to the Carling Black Label Cup challenge against rivals Orlando Pirates on July 29 at the FNB Stadium. They will look to keep the same spirit and win before taking on the first trophy of the season in the MTN 8.
]]>At the Absa Premiership 2016/2017 Awards ceremony he took home the goal of the season award. Two of the goals he scored during the season were nominated and he was smiling on stage with the award.
“I am grateful to win the award. It is yet another award on the long and fulfilling journey I have taken with football. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to point at something at the end of what was not a ceremonial season,” Shabba said.
As for the forgettable season Chiefs had with not lifting any silverware Shabba feels the work for the upcoming season needs to start now.
“We are already back at training and I think this is the time to start giving it 100%. We have to be positive and build towards a season we can make satisfactory. It is up to us and the rest will fall in place as we fight ahead.
So I am looking forward to next season already,” concluded a positive sounding Tshabalala
]]>Shabba received his accolades on Thursday evening at the clubs award ceremony and confirmed his disappointment but also promised to avoid the unpleasant feet again.
“Our chairman is old, he cannot have the ‘eish moment’ all the time,” said Tshabalala.
“We have to take responsibility and promise him that you have a team that can compete, it’s just that we need to up our game. We need to give our best week in and week out.
The promise never happened this season but it has to happen eventually, we need to persist until we get it right and we need to back it up not only by making promises but through performances.
It’s hurting to go [two] seasons without winning any trophies and it will be unfair and selfish of me to celebrate these personal accolades.
I’m here to create memories and I’m here to win trophies. I want to make history with the team and then individual accolades will come after. But nonetheless it happened and I will take it [the awards]. We need to come back stronger next season. We need to compete for everything on offer.”
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