Limpopo hoodoo haunts Chiefs as they visit Gallants
If Kaizer Chiefs’ poor record against Limpopo teams in their backyard is anything to go by, Amakhosi’s struggles will continue when they face Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday (5pm).
Limpopo hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Chiefs for a while, with their last victory in the province dating as far back as January 21, 2018, when they managed a 2-1 scoreline against Baroka.
Ryan Moon and Leonardo Castro netted for Chiefs on that day, while Lucky Nguzana was on the score sheet for the hosts at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Chiefs’ most recent visit to Limpopo was on May 26, where they were humbled 2-1 by Black Leopards, who would be relegated a few months later, at Thohoyandou Stadium.
Tiklas Thutlwa ’ s brace was enough to inflict heartache on the Soweto giants in coach Gavin Hunt’s final match in charge.
Two weeks earlier, Chiefs had been subjected to another defeat by a Limpopo side in the province with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (now known as Gallants, their next opponents) also outwitting them 2-1 at the same venue they’ll be meeting at on Sunday. Thabo Rakhale put the hosts ahead before the break, before Chiefs pulled one back via Lebogang Manyama, who initially saw his spot-kick saved by Washington Arubi before pouncing on the rebound to make it 1-1 last term. Thabo Mnyamane scored a penalty that sunk Amakhosi at the death.
Going into Sunday’s match against Gallants, Chiefs are still licking their wounds after a humiliating 4-1 defeat at home to Royal AM last Saturday.
Amakhosi mentor Stuart Baxter is already under pressure to find solutions to the side’s lacklustre performances this season.
In five games across all competitions they have leaked a whopping nine goals, scoring five in the process.
Fixtures Friday: Swallows v Cape Town City, Dobsonville, 5pm.
Saturday: Pirates v Sundowns, Orlando, 3pm; Amazulu v Baroka, Kings Park, 3pm; Sekhukhune v Arrows, Ellis Park, 3pm; Stellenbosch v Chippa, Danie Craven, 5pm; Supersport v Maritzburg, Lucas Moripe, 5pm.
Sunday: Royal v Galaxy, Chatsworth, 3pm; Gallants v Chiefs, Peter Mokaba, 5pm.