Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on May 24, 2025.
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Polokwane City 0
Betway Premiership
FNB Stadium, Nasrec
Amakhosi missed out on a top eight Betway Premiership finish after being held to a 0-0 draw by Polokwane City at FNB stadium on the last day of the 2024/25 campaign.
The draw, and results elsewhere, means Chiefs end the season in ninth place, ending a disappointing league campaign, though brightened by Nedbank Cup success.
The hosts were unable to convert the numerous chances they created as a stubborn Rise and Shine defence held out for the duration of the match.
Polokwane City set their stall out early, employing a nine-man defensive low block aimed at keeping Amakhosi out for 90 minutes. It made for a rather drab opening 20 minutes with both teams opting for caution with so much potentially at stake, resulting in a slow paced game.
It took until the 14th minute for the first sight of goal, with Tashree Morris firing over from Glody Lilepo’s cross. Three minutes later skipper, Yusuf Maart also missed the target, as opportunities were hard to come by in the packed City third of the field.
Dillan Solomons came desperately close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute when he received a pass from Sibongiseni Mthethwa and unleashed a ferocious shot from 20 yards that clattered back off the post with goalkeeper, Brian Okoth well beaten.
As the game opened up a little, Chiefs began to flex their muscles and went close on a few occasions without finding the final touch that really mattered. They also escaped when, on a are break up field in the 33rd minute, Mokibelo Ramabu’s cross from the right was sliced wide of Brandon Petersen’s far post by an unmarked Bonginkosi Dlamini with an open goal gaping.
It spurred Amakhosi into action and Edmilson Dove was unlucky to see his flying header from a Bradley Cross free kick clip the crossbar in the 40th minute.
Coach, Nasreddine Nabi replaced Morris with Ashley Du Preez five minutes before half-time but it was insufficient time for him to have any effect on the first half, which ended goalless.
Chiefs pressed forward relentlessly after the resumption of play, and had City on the ropes for much of the second half.
In the 61st minute, a Solomons cross skimmed off the top of the crossbar and landed at the feet of Du Preez to tee up Lilepo. His shot was saved and rebounded to Du Preez whose effort was blocked. From the resultant corner, Maart had a header cleared off the line and, three minutes later, Du Preez volleyed inches over after Lilepo’s clever pass found him in space inside the box.
Polokwane almost stole all three points in stoppage time but Petersen was on hand to pull off a flying save to deny Ramabu’s long range shot.
There was still time for Chiefs to have a decent penalty shout waved away when substitute Mfundo Vilakazi was brought down in the box but in the end the Glamour Boys could not produce that one moment of magic that would have propelled them into the top eight.
They will now have to do some soul searching and come up with a strategy to improve the situation next season.
Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Cross (48), Miguel (84), Dove (2), Solomons (18), Mthethwa (5) (Chivaviro (7) 78’) Maart © (8), Shabalala (42) (Sirino (10) 71’), Lilepo (99), Duba (36) (Vilakazi (28) 46’), Morris (40 (Du Preez (9) 41’)
Subs not used: Ntwari (30), McCarthy (35), Zwane (37), Ngcobo (12), Castillo (17,
Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
Polokwane City: Okoth (50), Manthosi (42), Ndlovu (33), Nikani © (4), Nkaki (34), Maphungule (14), Kambala (21), Dlamini (17), Raphadu (15), Letshedi (8) (Batlhabane (47) 81’), Ramabu (7)
Subs not used: Mathebula (40), Motsa (31), Gwangqa (43), Ngwenya (46), Ramushu (45), Goovadia (16), Makhubela (22), Ntamane (23)
Coach: Phuti Mohafe
