Posted in News, Team News on Jul 17, 2022.
Kaizer Chiefs Reserves were merciless once again when they dismantled Mamelodi Sundowns Reserves and bundled them out of the DStv Diski Shield during the semi-finals of the 2022 edition of the competition played at Giant Stadium in Soshanguve on Saturday afternoon. Amakhosi will now progress to the final of the top eight competition.
The encounter was entertaining and produced a goal in each half for Kaizer Chiefs, while Sundowns failed to score.
Amakhosi registered their first goal in the 30th minute through a brilliantly taken penalty by Mduduzi ‘Do Like I do’ Shabalala. The diminutive player and captain was brought down in the box and the referee did not hesitate as he immediately pointed to the spot. Shabalala was cool and calm as he converted the penalty that would put Amakhosi Reserves in the lead.
Wandile Duba was again on target as he banged in Chiefs’ second goal in the 75th minute in the second half. This was his third goal of the Diski Shield competition after he scored a brace against SuperSport United in the quarterfinals last Saturday.
The free-scoring teenager netted five goals in six games during the Engen Knockout Challenge a fortnight ago in Johannesburg.
Coach Vela Khumalo was full of praise for the young Glamour Boys who have shown that they mean business in recent games.
“We are still cooking and cannot get too excited,” said coach Vela Khumalo at the end of the match. “The boys are on song because they now understand what we are asking of them and they are getting to understand ‘the Chiefs way’.”
On the tactics of the match, he added that “the plan was to keep possession and we caught them on transition. Our boys kept on going to the attacking third and we caught them. We can’t say we are maintaining because in football you have to keep improving”.
Amakhosi’s young defender Omega Mdaka was named Man of the Match for his efforts in the tough match played in Sundown’s backyard in the north of Pretoria.
“Omega is getting better and better – he’s starting to understand the tactical part of the game and we are happy with his progress. He truly deserved the man of the match award against Sundowns,” added Khumalo.
On the free-scoring Duba, Khumalo said: “Wandile is truly special and I believe he will be a great player in the future. He needs to keep focused and working hard and he will do a lot for this country.”
In the other Diski Shield semi-final clash played earlier at the same venue, Stellenbosch FC Reserves secured their place in the final after they beat Chippa United 1-0.
Kaizer Chiefs Reserves will face Stellenbosch in the 2022 Diski Shield final next Saturday at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale in KwaZulu Natal.
