Kaizer Chiefs Academy graduates Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi made a huge statement with their well-taken goals in a 2-1 Premier Soccer League win over Marumo Gallants at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Sekela Sithole scored the hosts’ lone goal to give his team hope of getting something from the match before the visitors turned it around.
Coach Nasreddine Nabi gave a full debut to new signings Fiacre Ntwari, Inacio Miguel, Rushwin Dortley, Bradley Cross, and Gaston Sirino.
Njabulo Blom missed out owing to a lack of match fitness while Bongani Sam failed to make the squad owing to an injury.
The hunger and determination of the Glamour Boys were seen from the first whistle as thousands of their followers cheered them on.
Sithole breaks Amakhosi hearts
Chiefs faithful must have expected their team to score first, but their hopes were dashed in the eighth minute. A melee in the Soweto Giants box ended with the ball on Sekela Sithole's feet. His effort was deflected past the Rwanda custodian for an early lead.
In the 16th minute, Mduduzi Shabalala showed why he is highly rated after a cool finish to hand Gaston Sirino his first assist in black and gold jersey.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder could have given his team a lead moments later, but he couldn't convert Shabalala's cross with goalkeeper Washington Arubi out of position.
Ranga Chivaviro gave Nabi another reason to get a new striker when he missed a sitter after the influential South American had done all the donkey work before Daniel Akpeyi denied him again to ensure the first half ended even.
Showboating King answers critics with a classy finish
After the break, Amakhosi came back stronger, maybe motivated by what they had done in the initial half.
Christian Saile managed to get in the 18-yard area, and left the defender for dead before unleashing a good shot with an equally good save from Akpeyi. The rebound fell to substitute Mfundo Vilakazi who took one too many touches before seeing his effort being deflected off target.
In the 77th minute, Gallants were reduced to 10 players after Joseph Molongoane's foul that denied Amakhosi a clear scoring opportunity. The resulting free-kick by Sirino narrowly missed the target.
With 10 minutes to go, the Soweto giants broke from the left, with Wandile Duba bringing in a low cross that was expertly converted by Vilakazi, and left Afriye glued to his spot. It was a response for some of his critics who have been bashing him for showboating, and his celebrations were clearly a mockery against them.
Chiefs' second game will be on Saturday, September 21 against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
