KAIZER Chiefs got their rebuilding season off to a winning start and buried the ghost of Bloemfontein’s Toyota Stadium with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Marumo Gallants.
Mfundo Vilakazi came from the bench to score his first goal in the colours of Chiefs. His 79th-minute strike ensured Chiefs collected maximum points and began their Betway Premiership season in confident fashion.
A new-look Amakhosi side were treated to a sold-out venue and needed to make an immediate impact following their disastrous 2023/24 season and do away with the horror of losing 4-0 the last they ran out on this ground.
New coach Nasreddine Nabi included as many as five of his new signings as Chiefs laid down the challenge to the home side.
The start of the match was delayed by 15 minutes to allow fans more time to enter the stadium. The home side were not going to be dismayed, though, as they found their rhythm early, with Joseph Molangoane’s cross deflected into the visitors’ net by Sekela Sithole in the eighth minute.
However, with Gaston Sirino seemingly having brought the Shoe-shine and Piano to Phefeni, things would change quickly.
Uruguayan Sirino displayed an incredible all-round midfield game that included a neat passing range, positioning and forays into the box. As a result, he had two golden opportunities which he unfortunately failed to convert.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns player’s ball over the top recovered his side’s shock start as he found Mduduzi Shabalala, who coolly slotted past Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The pairing of Sirino and Shabalala created a lot of space for Amakhosi and quickly formed a connection that almost led to a second goal which was narrowly missed by the former Sundowns midfielder.
The visitors looked good in transition and dangerous when in possession, but Gallants would to some extent find their way back into the match in the second half.
However, Nabi countered with the introduction of Vilakazi and Ashley du Preez, looking to bolster his attack and create more chances.
It was the introduction of Wandile Duba that broke the game wide open. Put through on goal once again by Sirino, Duba found Molangoane as the last defender and resorted to a tackle from behind that earned him a straight red card.
The fresh legs injected new life and energy and Amakhosi rediscovered the ‘Nabi ball’ we saw patches of in the first half, and the Tunisian mentor was soon to be rewarded for his timely substitutions.
Bahlabane ba Ntwa were under the pump but still in with a chance to claim a hard fought draw on a night when they were second best.
Duba’s timely cross was brilliantly dummied by Yousuf Maart into the path of 18-year-old Vilakazi, who put through a sweet curler into the bottom corner of replacement keeper Daniel Akpeyi’s net to take a 2-1 lead.
Chiefs’ new signings had a huge impact despite this being the first game of the season for the Soweto Giants.
Together with the younger players who looked well prepared compared to last season, there is something brewing in Naturena, although it could be too early to tell.