Kaizer Chiefs beat Polokwane City 4-1 in an Absa Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening. George Lebese, Bernard Parker and Matthew Rusike’s brace cared for the goals. Thanks to the win, Amakhosi have now 63 points from 27 games and are LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

It is Chiefs’ twelfth league title since the Club’s foundation in 1970. The first league title was won in 1974. It’s Stuart Baxter’s second Absa Premiership trophy since taking over as the coach in 2012.

Baxter made one change for tonight’s Polokwane City game compared to the previous league outing against Tuks. Rusike came in for Katlego Mphela, while Reyaad Pieterse was again in goal in the absence of the suspended Itumeleng Khune.

Amakhosi started well with Lebese getting an excellent chance to open the score in the fifth minute. Rusike made a fine run on the right flank, crossed the ball in the box, only for Lebese to head the ball over the crossbar from close range.

However, after about ten minutes, there was a bit of a sloppy stage with Chiefs struggling to string passes together. It resulted in Polokwane getting some minor opportunities, but Pieterse was again in fine form.

But after this dodgy part of the game, Chiefs got better again from about the 20th minute. Especially Willard Katsande did tremendous work in midfield and it was the Zimbabwean central midfielder who provided the assist for Lebese’s opening goal in the 27th minute.

Four minutes later, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s well-taken free kick was not handled properly by the Polokwane goalkeeper. The ball landed in front of Parker, who said “thank you” and netted 2-0.

Pieterse, meanwhile, made another fine save when pushing Jabulani Maluleke’s free kick to corner.

At halftime, most of the crowd already started getting in a party mood. There were about 17 000 spectators in the FNB Stadium.

Mandla Masango came on for Lebese at the start of the second half.

Chiefs began the way they left off, dominating possession of the ball and going forward with venom.

The third goal arrived in the 55th minute. Tshabalala passed the ball with his right (from the right flank) to Rusike, whose powerful shot hit the back of the net. Party time!

The Amakhosi faithful, however, got a bit of a shock when Polokwane’s Rendani Ndou perfectly curled the ball past Pieterse, 3-1.

The game was lively with both teams willing to go forward in numbers. Another perfectly taken free kick from Tshabalala came to Rusike, who knew how to finish with his head, 4-1.

The Zimbabwean striker was applauded loudly when he came off the field in the 73rd minute, being replaced by Siphelele Mthembu. The applause was well deserved.

It was a fantastic win for the Amakhosi, helping to reach an unassailable points advantage over nearest challenger Mamelodi Sundowns with three matches to go.

Rusike was selected as the Man-of-the-Match for his fine performance and his two goals.

Amakhosi’s next league clash is away against Mamelodi Sundowns at Atteridgeville’s Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, 29 April (kick-off at 19:30).

Kaizer Chiefs (2) 4 (Lebese 27’, Parker 31’, Rusike 55’, 65’)

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Ndou 57’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse, Gaxa, Mashamaite, Mathoho, Masilela, Tshabalala (Maluleka 83’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Lebese (Masango 46’), Parker, Rusike (Mthembu 73’)

Polokwane City: Marumo, Musonda, Mhlongo, Nene, Lichaba, Alexander, Maluleke, Langa, Jembula (Monama 58’), Tlolane, Ndou