“It was a beautiful season,” reflected Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite after having received the Absa Premiership trophy. “The Chippa game was just a celebration.”

Amakhosi beat Chippa United 2-0 in a packed Nelson Mandela Bay stadium with at least 90 percent of the crowd supporting the newly crowned league champions.

“We felt that we were robbed last season,” continued Mashamaite, looking back on how Mamelodi Sundowns just pipped Amakhosi to the league title last season. “We owed it to ourselves to correct that.”

The captain also reflected on a “three year project” when coach Stuart Baxter arrived at Chiefs in 2012, with winning the 2014/2015 Absa Premiership title feeling like “graduation”.

Besides the league trophy, Amakhosi also won the MTN8 title.

“When I joined Chiefs,” Mashamaite said, “many people felt that I was not good enough to play for the Club. However, the coach came and showed me the way. As a result of all this, I am feeling a bit emotional at present.”

The 30-year-old centre-back has played this season in all 30 league games, scoring twice and only collecting two yellow cards, which is a remarkable feat to achieve for a defender. “I am actually angry about getting a yellow card today,” he reacted about the offence, which was also punished with a penalty for the opponent. Chippa, however, failed to convert the penalty.

Siboniso Gaxa is the other player, who started in all 30 Absa Premiership games. Thanks to its excellence defence, Amakhosi only conceded 14 goals in 30 league matches, which is another excellent achievement.

Chiefs coach Baxter commented about his captain: “Masha has been outstanding for three years. With his guidance and leadership skills it has all become a bit easier for the other defenders not concede goals.”