Premier Soccer League


Germiston Stadium


Germiston, Gauteng


Wednesday 15th August 2008


19h30

Playing Conditions: Clear skies, strong south westerly winds, temperature at kick off 11°C

The Amakhosi cruised home to a comfortable 2-0 victory on Wednesday evening in their opening league fixture of the 2007 – 2008 season, goal from debutants Mandla Masango after ten minutes and a penalty on the stroke of time from Mabhudi Khenyeza helped seal the win for Chiefs.

In chilly and cold conditions at the Germiston Stadium Chiefs were good value for their win and controlled the game from start to finish and should have scored more goals, in the end Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral will be pleased with the fact that his team have started off the new campaign with three points in the bag. Many had thought that Ertugral was taking a huge gamble by starting the game with the likes of Masango and Sandile Zuke, the youngsters in the line up came to the fore and repaid the faith the coach had in their abilities by getting the kind of result that will have pleased the fans.

Masango magic

Unlike their previous games against Benoni where the Rabbits played as an organized defensive unit, Benoni had no shape or form at the back in the opening exchanges and Chiefs were soon aware of the fact. As a number of Chiefs players went the aerial route as they tried to pick out the front, Onismor Bhasera thought off his feet after just ten minutes when he curled the ball off a throw in to the opposite end of the field. The ball drifted over the furthest Benoni United defender and fell in front of Mandla Masango, who headed the ball past Niewenhuis and watched it roll on into the net to score on his official debut for The Amakhosi. In all Masango could not have asked for a better start to his Chiefs career and could easily have scored a second goal, when in the 55th minute, Mabhudi Khenyeza fought off two defenders and glided into the United 18 yard area. Just as the ball rolled away from Khenyeza Masango acted quickly and blasted the ball goal wards, only for Niewenhuis to get a finger to the ball and push it up onto the cross bar and out to safety.

Second half assault

Masango’s 55th minute attempt at goal was one of several made by Chiefs as they virtually laid siege to the Benoni goal in the second half, which was a very one sided affair. Shaun Bartlett had thought that he had done enough to have found the back of the net just after the hour mark, when he headed an Bhasera cross towards goal Niewenhuis was again the saviour as he made a one handed save on the line and got the ball away.

As the game neared its end Chiefs continued to attack looking for a second and Benoni almost caught them out on the counter, as quick ball was played from the left to Loke lurking on the right hand edge of the Chiefs danger zone. Loke controlled the ball well with his chest and knocked the ball past Baron only for the post to deny him what looked like a certain goal with just two minutes of regulation time remaining. The Amakhosi though did make certain of the result in the final minute, when Thuso Phala was pulled back while attacking a chip towards the far post from Bhasera.

Referee Jerome Damon pointed to the spot and Khenyeza had the honour of sending Niewenhuis the wrong way to score his first goal in a Chiefs shirt.

Line Up’s:

Benoni Premier United (4-4-2): 30. Lance Niewenhuis, 8. Tshepo Mashishi,

28. Sibusiso Zwane, 5. Japie Motale, 20. Nkhosinathi Ngema, 15. Brian Kgafane,

12. Katleho Loke, 4. Beauford Tshabalala, 17. Bernanrd Parker, 16. Clement Mazibuko, 18. Bongani Mbhele

In: 10.Maxisole May, Out: 20. Nkhosinathi Ngema 46 min


In: 22. Houghston Hills, Out: 18. Bongani Mbhele 90 min

Subs not used: 01. Nimrode Tsiepigwa 7. Makhosini Mabizela,

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 12. Katleho Loke 24 min, 15. Brian Kgafane 87 min

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 1. Emile Baron, 2. Jimmy Tau, 3. Onismor Bhasera, 4. Cyril Nzama, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 27. Gerald Sibeko, 12. Thabo Mooki, 20. Sandile Zuke,

22. Mandla Masango, 5. Mabhudi Khenyeza

Substitutions:

In: 17. Shaun Bartlett, Out: 20. Sandile Zuke 46 min


In: 33. Ditheko Mototo, Out: 27. Gerald Sibeko 46 min


In: 26. Thuso Phala, Out: 22. Mandla Masango 64 min

Subs not used: 32. Itumeleng Khune, 23. Tshepo Bulu, 28. Derrick Spencer, 18. Arthur Zwane


Cautions: Yellow Cards, Jimmy Tau 33 min


Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Match Officials:

Referee: Jerome Damon


Assistant 1: Sandile Dilikane


Assistant 2: Steven Moshotle


4th Official: Johnny Du Toit