Kaizer Chiefs will play no part in the 2007 SAA Supa8 competition as they went down 2-1 to Silver Stars in their final game of the 2006–07 season on Sunday afternoon at the Vodacom Loftus stadium in Tshwane.

The Amakhosi needed the three points if they were to finish inside the top eight spots on the table and qualify for next season's Supa8 competition, which would have allowed for them to try and launch a successful defense of the trophy they won earlier in the season.

In the end it was a frustrating afternoon for Chiefs which ended in despair in the eighty-second minute when Chiefs defender Siphiwe Mkhonza turned the ball into his own net to restore Silver Stars' lead, which had been cancelled out in the second half by Serge Djiehoua after Heirapo Marumo headed Stars in front after thirty minutes.

Chiefs final game of the season was a must-win encounter for The Amakhosi and they attacked from the onset with David Obua marching into the Stars 18-yard area after just four minutes, he tried and successfully picked out David Radebe with a cross from the left. Radebe lunged for the ball and between two Stars defenders managed to get a foot to the ball and hit it goal wards. Kapini dove at full stretch on the goal line to deny him giving Chiefs the advantage.

While Chiefs dominated the earlier exchanges in the game, Silver Stars always posed a real danger on the counter attack and almost punished Chiefs in the 26 minute when Stars quickly cleared their lines and the ball eventually got to Koketso Mmotong. The speedy winger easily beat Mototo and Obua before sending the ball across goal, Dingaan Masanabo came running in and crashed the ball just past the finger tips of Rowen Fernandez and instead of hitting the net, his shot crashed against the advertising hoardings behind Fernandez goal.

On the half hour mark on around the half way line Serge Djiehoua was dispossessed of the ball, a quick pass was played towards Dingaan Masanabo who quickly got the ball out wide on the left to Tshepo Ramakola, who took a few steps before turning the ball in the direction of Heirapo Marumo who got in front of Siphiwe Mkhonza and headed the ball past Fernandez to give Stars the lead.

Trailing 1-0 at the half time Chiefs emerged from the break looking for a way back into the game. Serge Djiehoua was played in on goal by David Radebe in the 49th minute with just the keeper to beat, but his curling shot was Kapini well-read by Kapini who got across to stop the ball. Instead of looking to place the ball past the keeper Djiehoua should have opted for power and he might have found the back of the net.

Chiefs kept up the pressure and in the 53rd minute Siphiwe Mkhonza threw the ball long into the Stars danger zone, and Kapini came out to collect the ball but missed it completely and Thabo Mooki launched himself at the ball and headed it towards the empty net only for Inusah to come sliding across goal to keep the ball from going in.

Two minutes later and Mooki was once again the unfortunate party as he had a beautifully hit free kick superbly saved by Kapini. After Mototo was brought down on the left side Mooki lined up the shot and from a tight angle managed to send the ball over the wall but Kapini rose off the ground and touched the ball over for a corner.

Stars were, at this stage, all at sea as Chiefs launched attack after attack and Siphiwe Mkhonza was next to go close, as he dispatched a shot from long range towards Kapini in the 57th minute, only for the Stars keeper to again perfectly judge the ball and make a one-handed save to deny Mkhonza what would have been a spectacular effort.

Chiefs finally got one past Kapini in the 64th minute when Tinashe Nengomasha fought for possession with Khaile on the left and once collecting the ball, Nengomasha played the ball across to Jimmy Tau who pushed the ball in front of him, and as he did a week ago against Maritzburg United, the Chiefs defender sent a pin-point cross onto the head of Serge Djiehoua, who headed the ball past Kapini to bring Chiefs level.

As Chiefs continued to labor for a winner they were dealt a cruel blow in the 82 minute when Siphiwe Mkhonza headed Tshepo Ramokala’s cross from the left past Rowen Fernandez and into the back of his own net. Louis Agyemang had a shot saved by Stars substitute goalkeeper Sandilands in injury time, but the own goal so late in the game that it knocked the fight out of the Amakhosi and they resigned themselves to missing out on next seasons SAA Supa8 competition.

As the referee blew his final whistle to signal the end of Chiefs' 2006-07 season, the reality dawned upon The Amakhosi that just as it was when they were the defending Top8 champions in 2001 and failed to qualify for the competition in 2002, they will not be able to keep their grip on the SAA Supa8 trophy. This might not be an altogether bad thing for The Amakhosi as it means they will have a few extra weeks before they get their 2007-08 season up and running in August.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 33. D. Mototo, 44. S. Mkhonza, 21. P. Mayo, 27. G. Sibeko (20. Agyemang 78 min), 13. D. Obua (24. Mathebula 62 min),

8. T. Nengomasha, 2. J. Tau, 10. S. Nkosi (12. Mooki 46 min), 9. S. Djiehoua,

31. D. Radebe




Substitutes: 32. I. Khune, 4. C. Nzama, 20. L. Agyemang, 12. T. Mooki, 28. D. Spencer, 24. D. Mathebula, 22. R. Kilambe




Coach: Kosta Papic

Silver Stars: 1. T. Kapini (30. Sandilands 71 min), 6. W. Jackson, 5. A. Inusah,

3. M. Khaile, 20. E. Williams, 8. S. Kgatla, 11. K. Mmotong, 15. J. Motlhaping, 28. T. Ramokala, 14. H. Marumo, 9. D. Masanabo (17. Studzinski 90+ min)




Substitutes: 30. W. Sandilands, 19. S. Mghabe, 22. J. Mkalipa, 12. G. Mathe,

4. O. Radebe, 72. M. Maleka, 17. D. Studzinski




Coach: Owen Da Gama

Yellow Cards: Silver Stars, 15. Jomo Motlhaping 26 min

Kaizer Chiefs, 21. Patrick Mayo 43 min

Officials:


Referee: Peter Mabuza


Assistant 1: Shaheen Salot


Assistant 2: Mokete Phale


Match Commissioner: Mr. Philemon Maismula