Kaizer Chiefs maintain perfect Betway Premiership start with victory over Richards Bay

KAIZER CHIEFS (0) 1 Sirino 57

RICHARDS BAY 0

The hat-trick has materialised. Amakhosi’s dream start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season continued unabated at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday night as they notched up a third successive victory to remain joint top of the table with Sekhukhune United.

Substitutions, when they work, are invariably described as ‘inspired’ or even ‘super’. Chiefs’ stand-in coach Ben Youssef Khalil made one such last night, bringing on Gaston Sirino for Siphesihle Ndlovu.

The pint-sized Uruguayan did not take long to make his presence felt as he scored a peach of a goal to ensure Chiefs bagged maximum points yet again.

Richards Bay were making inroads into the Chiefs' danger area when Sirino stole the ball to launch a counter-attack that appeared innocuous at first. But when the ball was swiftly moved to Wandile Duba on the right, the partisan crowd could smell a goal and they cajoled their team on.

Duba delivered a low cross to the penalty box arc and Mduduzi Shabalala – having spotted the oncoming Sirino – cleverly dummied the ball, allowing it through his legs. The South American needed no second invitation and smashed the ball first time – sending it sailing over the flailing Salim Magoola into the net.

It was a goal worthy of the three points, although Chiefs could well have won this one by the proverbial mile – such was their dominance and their forays into the final third.

They had almost forced an own goal out of Lindokuhle Zikhali just two minutes after the break when Glody Lilepo headed the ball downwards and the visitors’ defender stabbed it past Magoola but wide and high.

On 53 minutes, Duba had a free header connecting a delivery by Bradley Cross but directed it straight into Magoola’s hands.

For all their dominance and attacking play, Chiefs had nothing to show for it by the half-time break – the majority of their forays into the opposition half fizzling out into the cold Highveld evening.

You knew they meant business from the onset when they fashioned an opportunity as early as the 7th minute, but Duba watched in disappointment as his superb cross from the right went past everyone in the box.

Just five minutes later, Lilepo forced Magoola into making a spectacular save with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box.

The Congolese then combined well with Siphesihle Ndlovu on the right before he smashed the ball over from just inside the box.

It was essentially one-way traffic as Chiefs peppered the visitors with incessant attacks. One of those saw Bradley Cross sending in a teasing ball over from the left, having spotted Duba making a run from the blind side. The onrushing attacker could not stretch enough to make a connection to beat Magoola.

Seven minutes before the break, Mduduzi Shabalala hoofed the ball over from the edge of the box following an impressive team build-up as the initial stanza ended goalless.

Amakhosi were dealt a blow when Aiden McCarthy had to leave the pitch injured on 35 minutes, to be replaced by Zitha Kwinika, who was surprisingly handed the captain’s armband by club skipper Miguel Inacio.

McCarthy’s injury was self-inflicted, really – the central defender making a late sliding tackle to try and stop Thulani Gumede, who was set to get on his bicycle on the right flank. He succeeded in stopping the Richards Bay winger in his tracks but also earned himself a booking, and a little later on he hobbled off the field.

Gumede was also taken off just before the half-time break, during which Chiefs paraded their latest three signings: Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro and the two former Cape Town Spurs youngsters, Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman. They signed on a free following a bitter PSL DC and SAFA Arbitration battle.

The trio received a rousing welcome from the Amakhosi faithful.

The biggest excitement came with the introduction of Mfundo Vilakazi late in the match, the tricky player exciting the Chiefs faithful even more with some trickery, which however failed to yield the desired result.

No one was complaining though, as the final whistle was met with great delight all round – the Chiefs fans staying on for a sing-along celebration with the players.

It is a dream start, and they would love nothing more than for it to continue throughout the season.

Tuesday night's Betway Premiership results:

Orbit College 0-3 Sekhukhune United

Siwelele 0-1 Polokwane City

Durban City FC 1-1 Golden Arrows

Chippa United 1-4 TS Galaxy

Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Richards Bay