Kaizer Chiefs 0

Polokwane City 0

FNB stadium, Nasrec

On a day when Amakhosi longest-serving player ever, Itumeleng Khune, was honoured for his services to the Club over 25 years in a moving ceremony just prior to kick-off, Kaizer Chiefs played to an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Polokwane City in their final home fixture of the 2023.24 DStv Premiership season.

The veteran was sent on as a substitute, to the delight of the spectators, for the final 15 minutes of the match.

The one point gained enables Amakhosi to hold onto the precious 8^th place in the league standings, although only on goal difference ahead of Rise & Shine, and AmaZulu. All have 36 points with one round of the campaign remaining.

With a top 8 place at stake, the opening half was a cagey affair as both teams seemed intent on not exposing themselves to an early setback rather than going for the kill from the start.

Amakhosi looked the more likely to threaten but a wild shot from Christian Saile, an effort from birthday boy, Edson Castillo and a tame Ranga Chivaviro header were all Chiefs had to show for their efforts in the first 45 minutes.

Amakhosi lost the services of Ashley Du Preez after half an hour with what appeared to be a foot injury, replaced by Happy Mashiane, which tempered their attacking scope somewhat.

At the other end, Bruce Bvuma coped well to block an awkward, dipping Oswin Appollis drive, but was largely untested under the protection of his well-organised defence.

The second half mirrored the lacklustre fare of the first half, with neither team able to establish enough rhythm to construct meaningful passages of play.

Amakhosi lost their way after about an hour and had a lucky escape when Tlou Nkwe fizzed the ball across goal and Hlayisi Chauke was a whisker away from sliding the ball home. Moments later, Appollis spurned a good chance when found in too much space for Cavin Johnson’s liking.

The introduction of Mfundo Vilakazi a few minutes later heralded an upturn in Amakhosi’s play and they regained the ascendency, Saile came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 68^th minute when he rounded City goalkeeper, Manuel Sapunga but saw his goal bound shot cleared off the goalline by Lebohang Nkaki.

On 85 minutes, Bvuma made way for Khune, to rapturous applause, and young Donay Jansen, one of the star for the reserves in the DStv Diski Challenge, was also introduced.

Such was the Amakhosi territorial dominance in the closing stages that Khune had only a couple of touches of the ball under no pressure. However, the Polokwane City defence held firm to see out the time to earn a draw.

The Glamour Boys travel to Cape Town for their final match of the season to face relegated Cape Town Spurs next Saturday, 25 May, in a game they will need to win by a significant margin to be sure of securing a top 8 finish to the campaign.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44) (Khune (32) 75’), Kwinika (4) (Jansen (29) 75’), Hlanti (23), Ditlhokwe (24), Msimango © (25) Castillo (17) (Mthethwa (5) 66’), Sithebe (6), Shabalala (42), Basomboli Saile (21), Du Preez (9) (Mashiane (19) 31’), Chivaviro (7) (Vilakazi (28) 66’)

Subs not used: Nj Ngcobo (27), McCarthy (35), Zwane (37), Gonzalez (14)

Coach: Cavin Johnson

Polokwane City: Sapunga (1),  Matuludi (2), Nkwe (3), Nikani © (4), Nkaki (34), Maphungule (14), Ramabu (7), Chauke (9) (Mello (49) 63’), Alexander (12), Mashikinya (17) (Raphadu (15) 57’) (Goovadia (16) 79’), Appollis (11) (K. Baloyi K (5) 79’)

Subs not used: Mathebula (40), Thuto (31), van Heerden (6), Nana (13), Tshabalala (29)

Coach: Phuti Mohafe