Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on May 23, 2026.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Chippa United (1) 1
(Seabi 33’)
Betway Premiership
Moses Mabhida stadium, Durban
Kaizer Chiefs ended the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season on a somewhat disappointing note when they went down 1-0 to Chippa United at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Despite outplaying their opponents with some delightful attacking football for the majority of the game, Amakhosi succumbed to a first half lapse, which allowed Justice Figueredo to home in on goal before setting up Sammy Seabi for a tap-in, which ultimately decided the outcome.
The result means Chiefs end the campaign on 54 points, well-ensconced in third place and qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
Fielding a youth-infused line-up that included 18-year-old goalkeeper, Takalani Mazhamba - who became the youngest ‘keeper to debut for Amakhosi in the PSL era - and a frontline of Luke Baartman, Asanele Velebayi and Naledi Hlongwane, as well as Mfundo Vilakazi, Chiefs started swiftly, with Velebayi and Baartman both having attempts at goal from outside the box within the opening three minutes.
Amakhosi threatened to overwhelm their opponents in the early stages and were only halted by incessant fouling from Chippa as they desperately chased after the ball that Amakhosi were moving quickly and incisively, with Vilakazi particularly influential, putting all of his creative talents on display, cleverly bringing his teammates into the game as he knitted the play together.
Reeve Frosler missed the target in the 10th minute before Velebayi forced a save from Dumisani Msibi a minute later. In 16 minutes, Hlongwane fired a shot across goal that narrowly missed the far post, and a couple of minutes later, Baartman pushed his effort wide from just behind the penalty spot.
The Chilli Boys struggled to get out of their own half as wave after wave of Amakhosi attack approached their goal whenever they tried to relieve the pressure. They managed to break out around the half-hour mark and Mazhamba received a yellow card on his debut for accidentally handling the ball outside his box in an attempt to thwart Justice Figueredo. He redeemed himself shortly afterwards with an excellent point-blank save to deny Sirgio Kammies. Then, Chippa took a surprising lead in the 33rd minute when Seabi, unmarked at the far post, knocked in Figueredo’s jabbed cross from close range after he had broken clear down the left flank.
Moments later, Chiefs lost Aden McCarthy to injury, replaced by the more than capable Given Msimango, as Chiefs now searched for an equaliser.
The visitors, however, buoyed by their goal, gained confidence and Chiefs needed Mazhamba to save three times in succession within the space of four minutes, as the first period drew to a close.
The burgeoning partnership between Velebayi and Baartman almost paid off when Baartman went close in the 42nd minute after being found by Velebayi, but Amakhosi were unable to level the score before the break and went into the changerooms trailing 1-0.
Three minutes into the second half, the pair combined again as Velebayi found Baartman inside the box, but he was denied by a good save from Msibi. Undeterred, the teenager persevered, flashing a header wide of the upright in the 58th minute from another Velebayi cross in his hunger to get Chiefs back into the game.
Just past the hour mark, Vilakazi had a shot blocked, and Lebohang Maboe struck an effort that only just cleared the crossbar, with Chippa riding their luck as they held on for dear life.
Baartman was replaced by Gaston Sirino in the 65th minute but not before he hit a venomous effort from range that Msibi managed to keep from flying into his net.
As the time began to wane, the introduction of Ethan Chislett and Pule Mmodi sparked some fresh energy into the team, but the elusive goal would not come, and when Maboe headed Mmodi’s cross wide deep into stoppage time, it was not to be Amakhosi’s day.
Yet, notwithstanding the disappointing result, the Club and its supporters can look upon the season as one in which marked improvement was evident and gives significant reason for optimism going into the forthcoming campaign later in the year.
Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Mazhamba (41); Cross (48), McCarthy (35) (Msimango (25) 38’), Miguel © (84), Frosler (39), Maboe (6), Ngcobo (12), Vilakazi (28) (Chislett (23) 75’), Velebayi (17) (Mmodi (13) 75’), Baartman (11) (Sirino (10) 65’), Hlongwane (31) (Morris (40) 65’)
Subs not used: Petersen © (1); Mako (29), Ndlovu (8), Phago (49)
Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze
Chippa Utd: Msibi (32); Mobara (22), Modise (27), Mosele (20), Kammies (25) (Philander (17) 90’), Seabi (21), Tshobeni (15) (Mfecane (8) 68’), Matrose (10) (Madingwana (28) 79’), Figareido (9), Kwayiba (14) (Bonani (34) 79’), Majadibodu (35)
Subs not used: E. Sithole (1); X Sithole (3), Ntsundwana (45), Konqobe (24) Ndlovu (25),
Coach: Brandon Truter
