Kaizer Chiefs got off to the best possible start at their new home at the Olympia Park stadium when they defeated a game Hellenic 1-0 in an entertaining Castle Premiership fixture played on Saturday night.

A close to capacity 28 000 fans swarmed to support Chiefs and their star midfielder Jabu Pule who played his first competitive match in nearly two months after seeking help with a drug addiction.

Amakhosi were 1-0 ahead within two minutes when wing back David Kannemeyer scored with a stunning free-kick that had visiting keeper Gareth Ormshaw well beaten.

Chiefs' Bafana Bafana defender Cyril Nzama used his skill to deny Darrel Smith a shot on goal in the sixth minute. Chiefs were unlucky not to have gone 2-0 ahead on 21 minutes when striker Lucky Maselesele beat Ormshaw from an acute angle but the ball drifted centimetres wide of the woodwork.

At the other end Amakhosi keeper Brian Baloyi did well to deny Hellenic skipper Ricardo Katza an equaliser in the 26th minute.

The biggest cheer of the night went to Pule when Ormshaw was forced to turn his pile driver for a corner two minutes from the break. Pule showed that he was as sharp as ever and pulled back a tremendous pass from Stanton Fredericks on halftime. But his teammate shot straight at the grateful keeper.

Amakhosi continued to dominate after the break. Maselesele was wide in the 48th minute. Pule started to turn on the charm as the match progressed and proved again what an incredible talent he is.

Hellenic had another let off in the 65th minute when Maselesele set up substitute David Radebe whose rocket flew just wide of the upright.

Pule created a number of chances and showed why Chiefs missed his influence so much. But strikers Maselesele and Radebe wasted chances that were set up by Pule and Fredericks from midfield.

Then the Amakhosi technical team reckoned it was time for the tiring Pule to rest and he was replaced in the 77th minute by Josias Macamo. But he had done more than enough to show that he is going to be a massive asset to Chiefs this season.

Chiefs started to lose the plot and it took a great save from Baloyi to deny Thabo Mngomeni an equaliser in the 85th minute. The Bafana keeper did well to fist the former national captain's long range shot for a corner.

Two minutes later Radebe was through but miraculously his shot was deflected for a corner.

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Brian Baloyi, Cyril Nzama, David Kannemeyer, Fabian McCarthy, Peter Matshitse, Thabo Mooki, Lucky Maselesele (Shoes Moshoeu 80th), Kabamba Musasa David Radebe 38th), Stanton Fredericks, Jabu Pule (Josias Macamo 70th), Tenashe Nengomashe.

Hellenic: Gareth Ormshaw, Anton Greyling, Craig Roslee, Ryan Hartslief, Ricardo Katza, Gareth Ncaca, Daniel Matsau, Albert Kometsi, Thabo Mngomeni, Naughty Mokoena, Darryl Smith.