Chiefs scrape through

Black Leopards did not die a coward’s death when they lost 0-1 to Kaizer Chiefs in their Nedbank last-32 match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon. Lidoda Duvha pushed Chiefs all the way and were unfortunate not to wrap up the match inside 90 minutes.

The Thohoyandou outfit had a great chance to take an early lead in the fifth minute. They opened up the Chiefs’ defence and ultimately the ball fell into the path of David Zulu, whose shot from just 10 yards went agonizingly wide of the goal. Marks Munyai, the Leopards’ right back, found himself on the wrong side of the law in the 16th minute. He obstructed George Lebese and the Port Elizabeth referee, Mr Lwandlile Mfiki, deemed it fit to reprimand him with a card.

Munyai’s caution did not scare his teammates. Instead, they continued to push the Chiefs’ defence backward, but unfortunately Lady Luck was not on their side. Minutes later, the Leopards attacker, Leonard Ntshangase, found space inside the box and blasted his effort high from close range. This after the Chiefs keeper, Brilliant Khuzwayo, moved closer to the striker to narrow the angle on goal.

The best chance of the first half fell to Chiefs in the 38th minute. George Maluleka found an unmarked Tefu Mashamaite on the edge of the box and the defender unleashed a stinging left-footed shot which the Leopards’ keeper, Jacob Mokhasi, acrobatically palmed away for a corner kick. On the stroke of half time, Leopards missed another great scoring chance. Chiefs’ defender, Siphiwe Mthweni, demonstrated his wisdom by avoiding a crucial touch that could have resulted in an own goal.

Karabo Tsepe brought the best out of the Chiefs’ goalie, Brilliant Khuzwayo, after the Amakhosi defenders retreated and allowed him space just outside the box in the 85th minute. He cracked a volley which went over the bar by a few inches.

Chiefs took the lead in the 19th minute of extra time, following a careless mistake by the Leopards marksman, Dunga Munganga. Although Leopards lost the match, they have something to be proud of. Their midfielder, Edgar Manaka, was nominated man of the match. He received a cheque of R5 000 and a Nedbank blazer.

News - Date: 28 February 2014

Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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