Curepipe, Mauritius: Kaizer Chiefs are through to the next stage of the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, thanks to the two goals scored in Rustenburg two weeks ago and Amakhosi right winger Arthur Zwane’s cracker sank the islanders deeper into oblivion as they saw their hopes of advancing to the next round go up in smoke after a clumsy 2-1 win over their South African visitors, writes Mputumi Putco Mafani.

Played in front of a poor crowd of 1,317 by the standards known by Chiefs players, the match started off at a good pace with both Chiefs wingers Zwane and Emmanuel Ngobese at a flying pace, whipping superb crosses into the box but the poor finishing of the Amakhosi pair of Collins Mbesuma and David Radebe let them down on numerous occasions.

Under bad pitch conditions and against players of strong built midfielder Gerald Sibeko did well to contain the islanders and still manage to distribute passes in the manner in which he did. Malawian Prince Chihana who plays for AS Port Louis 2000 opened the scoring with a header after two Chiefs defenders collided with goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez in the 26th minute and sent the small but partisan crowd into a frenzy. Their celebrations did not last long when Scara Ngobese provided for Zwane who shot fiercely into the net with the Mauritian goalkeeper well beaten.

Somehow the two goals did not do much to motivate both sides as the game went into a lull until end of first half but 4 minutes into the second half the islanders came back smoking and it was no surprise when another Malawian player Heston Munthali scored in a scramble and gave the hosts something to smile about. Chiefs had squandered scoring opportunities every time the islanders scored with Mbesuma and Radebe both culprits, something that did not please mentor Ted Dumitru.

“We have to make sure we bury clubs with opportunities that arise when we play at home because it is not easy out here and with match officials being fellow islanders from next door here in Seychelles, no one should expect any favour but we’re through and that counts most now,” said Dumitru.

Amakhosi had been enjoying the support of 3 supporters who had come all the way from South Africa to watch the game and a handful of South Africans plying their trade on the island and with a group of 30 supporters or so who paid about $2,6 for a ticket, that was enough for Cecil “Chief” Motaung, the club’s supporters administrator to open a branch of supporters.

Although he did not work here today International FIFA referee Lim Kee Chong attended the game after his superb performance in Durban last week when he officiated the SA-Australia international friendly.

Chiefs will be on the road again in about two/three weeks when they head for the island of Seychelles.