Chiefs coach blames ‘long grass’ for failure
Coach blames ‘grass’ for draw
Kaizer Chiefs were unable to break their winless opening day duck under Steve Komphela after their 1-1 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium yesterday.
In the three seasons under Komphela, Chiefs have failed to win their first match of each Absa Premiership campaign after a 2-1 loss against Wits last season and a goalless draw with Chippa United in the previous.
Two former Celtic players combined for the opening goal as Mulomowandau Mathoho’s header found the net from a Keenan Buchanan corner in the 36th minute.
Atusaye Nyondo equalised through a 75th minute penalty after the ball struck the hand of Lorenzo Gordinho inside the box.
Bizarrely, Komphela blamed the draw on uncut grass at the Bloemfontein stadium, usually used to host rugby games. “The pitch was pathetic,” he told SuperSport TV. “We couldn’t play here because the grass was a bit long. It made it difficult for us.”
Celtic got a first chance to see the team’s new playing formation under new Serbian coach Veselin Jelusic.
Phunya Sele Sele looked a new team with starting debuts being handed to new recruits Ndumiso Mabena, Lucky Baloyi, Roggert Nyundu and Jacky Motshegwa.
Given Mashikinya made his debut from the bench after replacing Baloyi in the second half. Chiefs on the other hand lined-up with a familiar starting team with none of their new signings on the starting XI. It remains puzzling why Chiefs have not strengthened the squad with players of enough quality to jump straight into the starting team.
Celtic got the first chance on goal in the ninth minute but unfortunately for them the ball fell for hard-man Alfred Ndengane, who miscued the ball wide inside the box.
An attack from the midfield saw the ball fall kindly for Deon Hotto, whose miskick found its way to Kabelo Mahlasela who also let Amakhosi off the hook in the 21st minute.
Celtic had looked the likely side to score in the first half but it was Chiefs who broke the deadlock. Celtic continued to probe the opposition defence and gave Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo some work to do. He was finally beaten as Nyondo sent him the wrong way from the spot.
Meanwhile, Maritzburg United stunned Platinum Stars 2-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium yesterday.