Smiso Msomi
Soweto giant Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates ensured positivity in their camps this week after impressively settling old scores in a blockbuster weekend.
Both teams jetted off into enemy territory to complete their missions, as Amakhosi descended upon the streets of Bloemfontein and efficiently dispatched Marumo Gallants in their first Betway Premiership outing.
The Glamour Boys had a different kind of swagger about them this time around and looked a rejuvenated side to the one that was blown away by Tanzanian giants Yanga SC in a pre-season friendly two months ago.
There was an aura of anxiety that filled a sold-out Free State Stadium ahead of this game as the Amakhosi faithful waited to feast on what new head coach Nasreddine Nabi had been cooking in the off-season, having been left with their heads in their hands the last time they entered that stadium.
However, all that built-up tension was eased with an admirable first-half showing and an effective enough second stanza to seal the win.
90 + 4'| 🟥#MG 1 : 2 #KC
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 14, 2024
Full time score: (Sithole 8’) Marumo Gallants 1 : 2 Kaizer Chiefs (Shabalala 17’, Vilakazi 79’)
Betway Man of the Match: Bradley Cross#Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/c0ajEh7A2G
On a day that presented so many positives for Chiefs, various individuals picked up their hands in a high-pressure situation, particularly 19-year-old Mfundo Vilakazi, who scored the match- winner.
News signings also introduced themselves to the hordes of Chiefs fans with inspiring showings and while Gaston Sirino stole the show, it was left-back Bradley Cross who walked away with the Player-of-the-Match award.
On the black-and-white side of Soweto, a revenge mission has begun excellently for Pirates after they beat Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round encounter.
The Sea Robbers were eliminated at this stage by the same opponents last season, which raised the tension levels ahead of their trip to Gaborone.
However, Jose Riveiro’s men showed their quality and grit to ensure a 2-0 win and took the first step towards the competition’s group stages ahead of the second leg in Orlando at the weekend.
☠️ ⏪️ 𝗬𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗠 ⏪️
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 15, 2024
🏆 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
🆚 @jwanenggalaxy
🏟 National Stadium, 🇧🇼
🗓️ 14 September 2024
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/NkChWSS474
Riveiro was not too shy to admit that their loss to Galaxy last season served as required motivation for his team to battle through the fixture.
“If I say we didn’t care, I would be lying because it was painful not to go to the group stages last season and the reason was that Jwaneng was better than us,” he said.
“So we have another opportunity to go to the group stage now and, ironically, we have to face the same opponents again. Before the game I tried to remind them that we have one year of experience with them because many of them went through different things (emotionally) after that game last season.”
The Buccaneers will have an opportunity to finish the job on Saturday but have a tricky test against Chippa United tomorrow.
Amakhosi will have a longer break before their next fixture as they continue to prepare for a trip to Durban to face AmaZulu on September 25.