Kaizer Chiefs triumphed over SuperSport United in the SAA Supa8 Cup Final on Saturday, lifting the trophy for the first time since South African Airways took over as tournament sponsors in 2003.

Saturday’s victory was Chiefs first in the competition for five years, as The Amakhosi last triumph in the event was back in 2001 when it was still known as the BP Top Eight.

Chiefs victory over SuperSport helped erase memories of the 2004 SAA Supa8 Final when The Amakhosi were narrowly defeated by their opponents on Saturday SuperSport. In the end of it all Chiefs found an unlikely hero in Saturday’s final, as they fought hard for victory over SuperSport United and were full value for their win in Durban.

Just as he did a year ago when he came up against SuperSport as a Bloemfontein Celtic player in the 2005 Supa8 final, Rotson Kilambe once again broke SuperSport Uniteds hearts as his 61st minute goal proved to be the difference between the teams.

Kilambe’s inclusion in the starting line up caught the opposition out by surprise and could be labelled as a stroke of genius, as few would have expected the Zambian to have been on the field.

In a game that was played in patches in the first half SuperSport perhaps had the better of the play and maybe one would say some of the best chances in the first half.

SuperSport United’s Dane Klate had was gifted with an opportunity to have given his team the lead on the seventh minute when, he was played through onto goal but hurried into his shot and missed the target. Chiefs best attempt at goal in the first period came, when Shaun Bartlett flicked a throw in from the left goal wards and Rotson Kilambe snuck in and headed the ball inches of the SuperSport cross bar.

As the first half grew older older SuperSport began carving openings in the Chiefs defence, on twenty eight minutes Modise and Mahoa played a neat one two which culminated in Mahoa unleashing a shot at the Chiefs goal. Amakhosi goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez was up to the challenge and made a superb save in a tight corner and kept his goal intact.

On the stroke of half time SuperSport had two chances at goal first Mahoa once again made Fernandez earn his match fee, by bringing out the best in the Chiefs goal minder with an angle shot. From the ensuing corner the ball bobbled about and eventually reached Teko Modise, the SuperSport midfielder unleashed a powerful shot towards the Chiefs goal. Through a maze of bodies Rowen Fernandez once again came out on top as he pulled off another outstanding save, to keep the scores level at half time.

If SuperSport had the upper hand in the first half, it was Chiefs all the way in the second half, as The Amakhosi had split open the SuperSport defence three times inside the first ten minutes of the second half. First Gert Schalkwyk and man of the match Scara Ngobese mesmerised the SuperSport defence before they eventually got back to clear the ball to safety, that was followed up a few minutes later when Cyril Nzama climbed highest to head the ball off a free kick from the left towards the goal and Rotson Kilambe took a first time shot which Onyango acrobatically saved. The culmination of this spell of Chiefs dominance in play came, when Gert Schalkwyk screamed down the left hand side and sent in a cross but there was no one at the end of it.

Soon after though Chiefs did take the lead as Scara Ngobese danced past three SuperSport defenders in the form of Siboniso Gaxa, Shane Poggenpoel and Tsietsi Mahoa. He then sent in a low driven cross which Onyango could not reach, waiting at the end it all was Chiefs striker Rotson Kilambe, the Zambian got onto the end of it an bundled the ball across the line.

Chiefs relentless onslaught on the SuperSport goal did not end there as they created a number of chances to have killed off the game as a contest, David Mathebula shot over Onyango on 65 minutes. This after he controlled a Shaun Bartlett crossed and lobed the ball over a SuperSport defender, he was unable to control his shot and instead of hitting the target managed to sky the ball over the post.

In side the last ten minutes Scara Ngobese had the opportunity to cap of a wonderful nights display by getting his name onto the score sheet, unfortunately for him he shot over from close range. After Rotson Kilambe had sent in a cross which was well controlled by David Mathebula, who got the ball to fall in front of Scara who shot over from inside the SuperSport 18 yard area.

For a number of Chiefs players victory over SuperSport on Saturday evening was sweet as it helped them put the defeat they suffered at the hands of Matsantsa at the same venue two seasons ago behind them. With all the mind games he was playing before the game Pitso Mosimane if he was two be believed got his wish and saw the yellow tide fly away with the 2006 SAA Supa8 Trophy, which also meant that Chiefs have now won the trophy an amazing thirteen times since its inception in 1972.

Chiefs will savour this victory before beginning an assault on the Telkom Cup in a week’s time when they meet Bidvest Wits at the Johannesburg Stadium in a Telkom Cup round of sixteen game.

Ernst Middendorp will go to bed some time early Sunday morning a happy man, knowing that his gamble to start with Kilambe paid off. He also leaves the ABSA Stadium with his 100% record at the venue in tact as he has won four games in official matches at the home of the Natal Sharks, which have included two Cup Finals.

Line Up’s:

SuperSport United: 31. D. Onyango, 2. R. Katza, 3. J. Matola,

4. T. Mahoa (8. Rantjie 85 min), 6. S. Gaxa, 7. D. Klate, 13. S. Poggenpoel, 10. A. Phiri (28. Mahlangu 89 min), 11. T. Modise, 21. K. Mashego (9. Bucuane 77 min),

22. J. Chamanga

Substitutes: 1. A. Arendse, 16. I. Mabotsa, 15. E. Williams, 8. R. Rantjie,

28. S. Mahlangu, 9. M. Bucuane, 26. T. September

Coach: Pitso Mosimane

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 4. C. Nzama, 6. F. McCarthy, 21. P. Mayo,

33. D. Mototo, 18. A. Zwane (24. Mathebula 60 min), 8. T. Nengomasha, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 11. E. Ngobese, 17. S. Bartlett (31. Radebe 75 min),

22. R. Kilambe (7. Motaung Jnr 90+)

Substitutes: 16. R. Wuest, 2. J. Tau, 12. T. Mooki, 31. D. Radebe, 7. K. Motaung Jnr,

24. D. Mathebula, 44. S. Mkhonza

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs, Yellow Cards: 33. Ditheko Mototo 38 min, 6. Fabian McCarthy 70 min

SuperSport United 13. Shane Poggenpoel 90+

Officials:

Referee: Daniel Bennett


Assistant 1: Enoch Molefe


Assistant 2: Luyanda Somi


4th Official: Yusuf Vawda


Match Commissioner: Philemon Masemola