Chiefs have an edge over Birds - Maponyane
Chiefs have an edge over Birds - Maponyane

Posted in News on Jul 20, 2012.



Kaizer Chiefs legend Marks Maponyane believes that history is against Moroka Swallows when the two sides square up in the Gauteng Sports Challenge at Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Tshwane on Saturday, 21 July 2012.



Affectionately known as ‘Go-Man-Go’ during his heydays as a striker with 85 goals, donned the gold and black from 1981 to 1990 becoming the club’s all-time leading goal scorer shared vivid memories playing against Moroka Swallows in the 1980s.



The two sides have squared up against each other 55 times since 1985 with the Glamour Boys recording 30 victories while Swallows have won just 11. Last season Chiefs managed to beat their rivals at home and away and Marks Maponyane believes that the trend can continue come Saturday.



Marks Maponyane commented; “Games between Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs have always been top class. I am fortunate to have played in some and watched some of the best games against these two sides. Chiefs always beat Swallows,” recalled Maponyane with supreme confidence.



“Swallows always played great games because they had talented players like Fetsi Chippa Molatedi, Aubrey Makgopela, Ace Mnini, and many others. I will never forget scoring a brace against Swallows in 1981 in a packed Orlando Stadium while I was still attending school. I had joined Chiefs the same year and it was a proud moment for me.



Maponyane was also present at the drawn 10 goal thriller in 1983; at Orlando Stadium; a game that would later famously be known as the ‘Way of Life’.



“I was not eligible to play in that game because of my injury. The late legendary Ace Ntsoelengoe was unbelievable on that day scoring a hattrick for us. His third goal was a diving header that gave goalkeeper Isaac Chirwa no chance.



“Ryder Mofokeng, Teenage Dladla, Bull Lehoko and many of my colleagues were unbelievable on the day. The Swallows side also had Andries Maseko who like Ace Ntsoelengoe, scored a hattrick that afternoon. I do not remember seeing a high scoring game like that again. It was magic,” added Maponyane.



Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows games continued to be mouth-watering clashes way after the eighties and it will not be different on Saturday when the Glamour Boys of Phefeni take on the Birds of Dube in Soweto.



Kickoff for the game is at 12:15.

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