WITS MAKE CHIEFS LOOK SO ORDINARY
Amakhosi crash in PSL opener Sundowns downed in Nigeria
BIDVEST Wits started the new season with a 2-1 victory over a Kaizer Chiefs team that has made little improvement from last term, judging by their performance here last night.
Amakhosi have been talking big as they look to bounce back from a horrible campaign last time round, but they were made to look ordinary by Wits.
Last night’s performance might give Wits coach Gavin Hunt some hope that this is the campaign he finally cracks the code.
The Clever Boys’ new signings, especially Xola Mlambo and Thabang Monare, made a huge impact on their debuts.
The same cannot be said about their opponents.
It might have only been the first game of the season but Amakhosi fans should be worried by what they saw last night.
Chiefs were shocking, disjointed and never looked like they had a plan.
Komphela brought in 10 new players after the massive clear out last season but only Ramahlwe Mphahlele debuted for Amakhosi.
Komphela started with Bernard Parker as the lone striker. He was tightly marked by Wits defender Buhle Mkhwanazi.
Parker cannot take all the blame because he just was not getting enough supply from his team mates.
George Lebese did not look inspired at all, William Twala did a lot of running but very little with the ball, while George Maluleka and Pule Ekstein failed to stamp their authority in their central midfield roles.
Chiefs also struggled to deal with set pieces and crosses into their box.
Wits’ goals were headers by Elias Pelembe (33rd minute) and captain Thulani Hlatshwayo (64th minute).
Lorenzo Gordinho scored Chiefs’ consolation in the 82nd minute, but by then Wits had already done enough to win the game. Other results last night: CPT City 2, Polokwane 0 Baroka 1, Ajax 1 Chippa United 2, FS Stars 1 IT WAS a meaningless clash yet Enyimba and Mamelodi Sundowns still produced a four-goal thriller in their CAF Champions League group stage tie at Port Harcourt Stadium in Nigeria yesterday.
Sundowns lost 3-1 but the result had no bearing as the Brazilians came into the match having already secured their place in the semifinals by virtue of being Group B winners.
Coach Pitso Mosimane and his team await the result of today’s clash between Zambian champions Zesco United who host group leaders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco. Downs will meet the runners-up in the semis next month.
Meanwhile, Enyimba had no prospect of making it to the semis despite registering their first win in the group stage.
Although play was spoilt by a waterlogged pitch owing to rainy conditions yesterday, the small crowd was still treated to some great football. Enyimba were the first on the score sheet in the 24th minute via John Uche.
Percy Tau drew Downs level nine minutes later but Mfon Udoh restored the lead for the hosts before Uche completed his brace from the penalty spot. –