Siphesihle Ndlovu strike downs Polokwane City as Kaizer Chiefs’ continue perfect league start

KAIZER CHIEFS (0) (1) Ndlovu 79’

POLOKWANE CITY (0) (0)

Siphesihle Ndlovu’s solitary goal handed Kaizer Chiefs all three points as they beat Polokwane City 1-0 at a chilly FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

Chiefs have now won both matches since the start of the Betway Premiership season, and are yet to concede, having beaten Stellenbosch 2-0 on Sunday.

It’s still early days in the new season — the league is contested over 30 matches — but Chiefs are showing strong signs of improvement from last season’s campaign.

With some of the new signings — Ethan Chislett, Nkanyiso Shinga, and Flavio Silva — still awaiting the finalisation of their paperwork, the team could yet become even stronger.

While Chiefs are seemingly cruising, Rise and Shine are enduring a slow start to the season and haven't scored in their opening three matches. Polokwane lost their opening game to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarter-final and drew 0-0 with Magesi in their league opener on Saturday.

Having kept three clean sheets and scored seven goals in his last three matches in charge, Khalil Ben Youssef was looking for his fourth consecutive win here.

And he achieved just that. The Chiefs assistant coach, who is holding the fort for head coach Nasreddine Nabi — currently back home due to a family emergency — guided the side to a 1-0 win over City.

Youssef’s team produced a controlled performance, although the match lacked fluidity due to frequent stoppages during much of the first half.

He did his best to fire up his players, staying on his feet throughout both halves and barking instructions from the touchline.

The Chiefs players needed that wake-up call early on, as they started sluggishly, allowing Rise and Shine plenty of time and space on the ball.

The visitors, however, failed to capitalise on the freedom they were afforded, with their best chance coming when Manuel Kambala forced a brilliant save from Brandon Petersen.

Youssef’s instructions seemed to pay off as Chiefs began playing with more vigour, taking the game to the visitors with some excellent passages of play.

But for all their slick build-up, Chiefs still lacked the crucial cutting edge in the final third, often losing possession too easily.

So when Youssef replaced Mduduzi Shabalala with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo — who scored a beautiful set-piece against Stellenbosch — at half-time, it came as no surprise.

Ngcobo tried his best to spark the team going forward, but Chiefs still struggled in attack, continuing to surrender possession cheaply.

The problem extended beyond the forwards, as Youssef’s decision to replace right-back Thabiso Monyane with Reeve Frosler was met with loud boos from the stands.

Amakhosi fans did, however, find a moment of joy when Paseka Mako made his debut to loud chants and cheers.

Mako was signed during the ongoing transfer window after leaving Chiefs’ neighbours, Orlando Pirates, where he won multiple trophies.

That excitement grew moments later when Siphesihle Ndlovu, making only his second appearance of the season, made it count with a goal.

Ndlovu struck from close range after City’s poor defending allowed a loose ball to fall kindly for Frosler, who teed him up perfectly.

The 28-year-old’s strike was enough to hand Chiefs all three points, keeping their early-season dream alive under Youssef’s guidance.