Kaizer Chiefs lost further ground in the title race when they were held to a goalless draw by stubborn Free State Stars at Olympia Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Chiefs had hoped to narrow the gap between themselves and Supersport by six points.

The Glamour Boys were back in action following a two-week break as international football took the stage. Muhsin Ertugral handed former junior international, Dominic Isaacs his first start of the season while the young, Punch Masenamela came in for suspended Siphiwe Tshabalala.

The home side put the visitors under tremendous pressure during the opening stages of the game and striker, Abia Nale brought the best out of Kennedy Mweene, this was when he found himself unmarked inside the box.

Then Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s deflected shot went just wide as Chiefs piled the pressure on visitors. Chiefs thought they had found an opener when Punch Masenamela’s shot hit the back of the net but the goal was ruled offside by referee, Abdul Ibrahim, 0 -0 at Olympia Stadium.

Itumeleng Khune was called to duty when he dived low to deny Free State Stars captain, Duncan Lechasa from a direct free-kick just outside the 18-area box.

Kaizer Chiefs responded immediately, Punch deployed in an unfamiliar left wing position, watched his snap shot going just wide of Kennedy Mweene’s left upright as the Glamour Boys searched for an elusive opener.

Muhsin Ertugral added more fire power upfront at the beginning of the second stanza when he brought Tshepo Bulu for Punch Masenamela.

It was Free State Stars though who came close breaking the deadlock when Sipho Nkosi’s well taken free kick went just wide Itumeleng Khune’s left up right.

The sensational midfielder, Michael Nkambule featured for Chiefs for the first time in five months when he replaced Abia Nale in the 73rd minute. The Glamour Boys continued to search for a winner as Onismor Bhasera’s free kick was saved unconvincingly by Kennedy Mweene.

The boys from Phefeni remain on third position with 41 points and they will travel to the Friendly Province on Wednesday to honour their date with relegation bound, Bay United.

Chiefs: Khune, Ntuka, Bhasera, Nahayo, Isaacs, Letsholonyane, Zwane (Dladla 70) , Nale (Nkambule 73), Mathebula, Motaung Jr., Masenamela (Bulu 46)

Substitutes not used: Baron, Quartey, Rooi, Sibeko,

Substitute appearances: Micheal Nkambule, Tshepo Bulu, Josta Dladla

Debut :



Dominic Isaacs

Technical Team


Muhsin Ertugral (Head Coach)


Fani Madida (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)

Stars: Mweene, Nkosi, Cloete, Mensah, Mabaso, Lechesa, Olomu, Madimabe, Mdluli, Ngcobo, Mofokeng

Substitutes not used: Khumalo, Mofedi, Telfer, Tsotetsi, Motaung, Makola, Gcaba

Technical Team


Steve Kompela (Head Coach)


Milton Niehov (Goalkeeper Coach)


Marco Munhoz (Physical Trainer)


Timothy Vadachalam (Physio)

Match Officials


Abdul Abrahim (Referee)


M. Chalambisa (1st Assistant)


J. Moshidi (2nd Assistant)


T. Nkosi (4th Official)


Stan Swart(Match Commissioner)