Caution: Kaiku,

Substitute, Thabang Rooi became a hero as he slotted home the last penalty to give the Glamour Boys a 4-3 in an entertaining encounter played under freezing conditions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday night.

Orlando Pirates had to come back from behind to equalise through Joseph Kamwendo after Man of the Match, Josta Dladla had given the Amakhosi the lead inside 11 minutes of the first half.

The Amakhosi who looked impressive every time they go forward made a return to Nelson Mandela Stadium where they won Premiers Cup earlier in the month and they were the first to draw blood when Josta Dladla well placed shot beat advancing Moneeb Joseph following a sublime pass from Abia Nale, 1-0 to Chiefs after 10 minutes.

Two minutes later, young sensation Knowledge Musona brought the best out of Moneeb Josephs as he tested him with a 20 metre strike with opposition defence in sixes and sevens.

Then rejuvenated Mandla Masango with a well taken shot with his weaker left foot forced Moneeb Joseph to pull another save this was after the U-20 international dispossessed opposition left-back, Innocent Mdledle.

Orlando Pirates’ Josephy Kamwendo grabbed an equaliser in the 30th minute with Chiefs defence caught facing their own goals, 1 all at Nelson Mandela Stadium.

If it was not for Joseph’s heroics Chiefs could have scored four goals in the first stanza of the game as the goal minder was at hand again to save his defender’s blushes when he denied Abia Nale with a fierce shot just outside 18 area box, 1 all at half time.

Vladimir Vermezovic introduced Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the 46th minute but the player had to be pulled out hardly five minutes following an overzealous tackle from the opposition.

The second stanza did not produce much action as both teams seem to pull their foot off the peddle. Penalties for the first time in the current format had to decide the fate of the team going to penalties.

The night belonged to the boys from Phefeni as goalkeeper; Itumeleng Khune once again showed his class when he saved two penalties and Thabang Rooi slotting the last penalty to give Chiefs a deserved win.

It was a perfect present for skipper, Jimmy Tau who was celebrating his birthday on the day.

The Glamour Boys will now face Manchester City at Loftus Versfeld for the final of Vodacom Challenge 2009.

Chiefs: Khune, Molekwane, Masenamela, Sweswe (Rooi 75), Ntuka, Nengomasha, Masango (Zwane 88), Mathebula (Letsholonyane 46) (Sibeko 53), Musona (Torrealba 60), Dladla, Nale

Substitutes not used: Metsimetsi, Lebese, Bulu, Nhleko, Mmbooi,

Technical Team

Vladimir Vermezovic (Head Coach)


Donald Khuse (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


Elsa Storm (Fitness Trainer)

Pirates: Josephs, Mahamutsa, Mdledle (Legwathi 46), Seema, Thwala, Kamwendo (Manyisa 76), Kaiku (Mhlongo 55), Mabalane, Mabena (Mthembu 46), Mashego (Chenene 80), Mongala (Modise 72)

Substitutes not used: Modiadie, Makhanya, Makonese, Jali, Mothibantwa, Masina,

Technical Team

Rud Krol (Head Coach)


Williams Okpara (Assistant Coach)


Ezikiel (Team Doctor)


Zondi Soloshe (Masseur)

Match Officials

Jerome Damon (Referee)


Andrew Rezeers (1st Assistant)


Siphiwo Jibiliza (2nd Assistant)


Gerodinimo Piedt (4th Official)