Posted in News, Youth Academy on Apr 07, 2025.
Chiefs reserves displayed admirable application and resilience in an intimidating setting to come away from the Cape Winelands with a well-earned 1-1 draw in their potentially title-deciding DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) encounter with Stellenbosch FC at the Idas Valley stadium on Saturday, in which both teams finished with 10 men.
Naledi Hlongwane gave Chiefs a 43rd minute lead when they were already a player down after defender, Siyabonga Gumede had seen red as early as the fifth minute. Stellenbosch forfeited their numerical advantage in the 58th minute when Tonny Mbunga received his marching orders, but rallied to level the scores in the 80th minute through Quwan Plaatjies.
The result ensures Chiefs hold their one point lead over Stellenbosch in the two-horse title race that looks to be going down to the wire. Chiefs have 55 points from 23 matches, while Stellenbosch sit on 54, from 24 outings in the 30-match season. Mamelodi Sundowns are a distant third, on 45 points.
Next Sunday, Amakhosi face an away tie against TS Galaxy.
Meanwhile, The SAFA Gauteng Development League (GDL) fixtures between Kaizer Chiefs’ youth teams and their Wits Juniors counterparts were called off on Saturday morning after the fields at the Village were deemed unplayable by the match commissioner as a result of waterlogging from persistent rainfall.
Hopefully, the playing surface will have recovered sufficiently to accommodate the visit to the Village of Tuks juniors this coming Saturday, 12 April, for the next round of GDL fixtures.
