If Chiefs needed a motivator to lead them home to success they need look no further than their stand in captain for the day, who came in the form of goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.

The Chiefs net-minder was at the fore front of The Amakhosi’s victories on Saturday as he controlled his backline and shouted instructions like a seasoned captain, Rowen himself stood on the front lines. As he took a blow to the chest early on in Chiefs semi final clash against Black Leopards when challenging for a 50/50 ball, as the Leopards striker continued his run the Chiefs captain had the wind knocked out of him.

When questioned later as to whether he enjoyed his day out as captain Rowen answered by adding “it was really nice to be given the opportunity and I really enjoyed my game more being captain”.

The Chiefs goalkeeper felt that being captain made him put in an extra effort to ensure the team were successful saying “the thing is when the coach told me that I was to captain the team for the tournament I said to myself that I have to lead by example and I think I did”.

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp said afterwards that with Nzama out Rowen was the clear favourite for the captaincy “Rowen is a senior player and he is one of a group of experienced players who form the spine of the team. Him being a senior player and a responsible person helped sway me towards making him the captain really he did a good job”.

With Rowen leading the charge to victory in Limpopo Chiefs though will be happy to have a fully fit Cyril Nzama back when their pre season programmes moves to Cape Town in the coming. Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp will be happy to go into the Vodacom Challenge with his players finding fitness and the early signs look promising for the Amakhosi.