Caution: Letsholonyane, Nahayo, Motaung JR., Khenyeza, Mungomeni, Musona, Booth, Tshabalala.

Kaizer Chiefs made their intentions to challenge for the Absa Premiership this season clear when they beat current log leaders by 1-0 reducing the gap to only a single point.

Played in front of almost 43 000 supporters, the game saw striker Kaizer Motaung JR grabbing his first goal of the season to give the Amakhosi a much needed boost.

Vladimir Vermezovic had made two changes to the team that beat Mpumalanga Black Aces on the 22nd December with Valery Nahayo getting a nod ahead of Thomas Sweswe. Siphiwe Tshabalala who missed the last two games last year returned to the side in a place of Mthokozisi Yende.

The change at the back was a master stroke from Vladimir Vermezovic as Valery Nahayo displayed a five star performance that earned him a Man of the Match Award. Nahayo was faultless at the back keeping striker, Mabhuti Khenyeza in check throughout the proceedings.

The match started at a slow pace as both sides seemed to struggle to get to the top gear owing to the Christmas break but that did not stop livewire Musona to watch his curler going just wide of Wayne Sandilands goals in the 37th minute.

The hosts came strongly in the second half and it was not a surprise when Kaizer Motaung opened scoring with a powerful header following a sublime cross from Siphiwe Tshabalala.

A minute later, Itumeleng Khune was called to duty when he pulled a spectacular save to deny Franklin Cale.

The Glamour Boys should have added two more goals but Wayne Sandilands pulled a superb save to deny Punch Masenamela who is still looking for his first goal in the top flight.

Deep in the injury time, Knowledge Musona left two defenders from Sundowns for dead before watching his well taken strike outside the 18-area box going just over the bar.

The victory though came at a price as Chiefs will travel to Cape Town next week without the services of Siphiwe Tshabalala and Valery Nahayo who are both out due to suspension.

Siphiwe Tshabalala is to fly out to Switzerland on Sunday afternoon as he is in a contention to win the Puskas Award awarded for best goal in 2011. The Awards are on Monday, 10 January 2010.

Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Masenamela, Nahayo, Isaacs, Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala (Nale 90), Musona, Dladla (Masango 57), Motaung JR (Yende 82)

Substitutes not used: Bartman, Molekwane, Ngcobo, Sweswe

Technical Team

Vladimir Vermezovic (Head Coach)


Donald “Ace” Khuse (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


David Milner (Team Physio)

Sundowns: Sandilands, Xulu, Booth, Mwanjale, Nyandoro (Henyekane 73), Mungomeni, Pattison, Mokoena (Mushekwi 62), Ngubane (Mkhwanazi 54), Khenyeza, Cale

Substitutes not used: Baloyi, Tshilo, Moriri, Khumalo

Technical Team

Antonio Lopez Habas(Head Coach)


Miguel Martinez Gonzalez (Assistant Coach)


Ian Gorowa (Assistant Coach)


(Goalkeeper Coach)


(Physiotherapist)