Posted in Features, News on Jan 26, 2023.
Kaizer Chiefs head up the N1 highway this weekend for a crunch DStv Premiership tie against Royal AM at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon. Chiefs will be using the venue as an alternate home ground until the end of the season and this will be the first of three home games that Amakhosi will play in Limpopo Province’s largest city.
Chiefs have fond memories of the stadium, particularly the 15th May 2013, when they clinched their third PSL Era league title at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. A 1-1 draw with SuperSport United was enough to crown Chiefs as champions ahead of Platinum Stars, with a game to spare. On that clear but chilly night in Polokwane, Lehlohonolo Majoro had given Chiefs the lead, with Sibusiso Zuma equalising for SuperSport United. Chiefs dethroned their rivals Orlando Pirates as Champions of South Africa to lift their first league title since the 2004-05 season.
A carnival atmosphere engulfed the Peter Mokaba stadium as Amakhosi fans celebrated with along with the jubilant players late into the night, and not even the cold winter air could stop them from revelling in Chiefs’ joy.
Earlier on in the season, on the 29th September 2012, the Peter Mokaba Stadium was the venue where Chiefs defeated Chippa United 2-0. The game saw Tefu Mashamaite, who played a key role in Chiefs’ title-winning campaign, open the scoring in the 39th minute, while Majoro added a second in 11 minutes from full time.
It was an important game for Chiefs as it was their sixth game of the season that was part of a run of 11 games in which Chiefs went undefeated from the start of the season.
The support from the fans at the Peter Mokaba Stadium played an integral role in both the way Chiefs started and ended the 2012-13 season, lifting the team to victory over Chippa United at a crucial time, and then providing the backdrop to Amakhosi’s clinching of the league title.
After this one, Chiefs will play two further home games as the home team n Polokwane this season in the DStv Premiership. They will be back on 19 February to host Golden Arrows and will face Soweto rivals Swallows on 2 May.
