Kaizer Chiefs will have to wait longer to win the MTN8 and have presented Orlando Pirates with a chance to match their record in this competition after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows FC in a quarter-final clash at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Amakhosi goalkeeper Brandon Petersen aided the ball into his own net off a strike by Khulekani Shezi in the 53rd minute. It was the first official defeat for Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz, just two games into his job.
Having last won the MTN8 in 2014, Amakhosi now have their record of 15 titles under real threat from Soweto rivals Pirates, who have won this competition 14 times. The Buccaneers are also on a four-season MTN8 winning streak.
Should Pirates beat Sekhukhune United in the semi-finals and also win the final, they will go on par with Amakhosi, who have won 15 MTN8 crowns.
Arrows now face Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals as they seek to clinch this tournament for the first time since 2009 when they won it under Manqoba Mngqithi.
FARPost goes beyond Sunday’s result and takes a look at who walked away carrying honours and the failures from the contest between Amakhosi and Amabana Bes’thende.
LOSER: LANGELIHLE PHILI
It was a losing debut for the former Stellenbosch FC star, whose arrival at Naturena was announced by Chiefs last week. After coming on for Nkosingiphile Ngcobo in the 63rd minute, Phili was promising with some goal attempts, but nothing materialised.
For all the buzz that surrounded his signing, much was expected from the 21-year-old whose maiden appearance in Chiefs colours was at the club’s home ground. However, he could not do it alone in a match where he showed glimpses of what to expect from him as the season progresses.
LOSER: NKOSINGIPHILE NGCOBO
The fresh-faced 26-year-old midfielder remains a promising player since the 2018/19 season when he made his first-team debut as a teenager. Over the years, Ngcobo has not lived up to his potential after starting out with high expectations on him.
Sunday’s game was his first start of the season, and he was withdrawn in the 63rd minute for Phili. He struggled in midfield as a playmaker on a day he might have used the moment to silence all his critics. He had two golden opportunities to score but failed to convert.
WINNER: KHULEKANI SHEZI
The 25-year-old defender was behind the effort of the all-important goal which separated Chiefs and Arrows. That was the most notable contribution on an evening he was not the standout player on the pitch.
Although midfielder Nhlanhla Zwane was named as the Man of the Match, Shezi showed up in a moment which defined the evening.
LOSER: BRANDON PETERSEN
The experienced goalkeeper was responsible for allowing Shezi’s shot into the back of the net. Petersen badly positioned himself and could not cover the near post to narrow the angle between him and Shezi, leaving a gap for the Arrows right-back to spot and exploit.
It is a slow start to the season for Petersen who also conceded in Amakhosi’s Betway Premiership opener against Kruger United last week.
WINNER: PITSO DLADLA
The Golden Arrows coach was the mastermind of Durban City FC’s Nedbank Cup triumph last season. Defeating giants like Chiefs is no mean feat, and he is now on course to win the MTN8 and make himself a cup specialist.
It appears to be an interesting test for Dladla to show that winning the Nedbank Cup was not a fluke. That gives his bosses at Arrows confidence that they made the right decision to settle for him as Mngqithi’s replacement.
LOSER: FERNANDO DA CRUZ
Chiefs started the season with five trophies to play for. But just two weeks into the term, one competition has slipped out of their hands, and they are left with four to fight for.
Da Cruz is now pressed to make sure Amakhosi do well in the Betway Premiership, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup. The Frenchman will be hoping Sunday’s defeat will not sway impatient Chiefs fans to lose belief in him and form cracks in his relationship with the suppporters.
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