Kaizer Chiefs have maintained their winning start to the Betway Premiership after defeating Polokwane City 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Polokwane City
Date: 13 August 2025
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs made a couple changes from their win over Stellenbosch FC as Gaston Sirino and Sibongiseni Mthethwa were handed their first starts of the season, with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Naledi Hlongwane dropping out.
The hosts enjoyed a lot of the ball in the early stages, but it was Rise and Shine who had the better openings as Mokibelo Ramabu and Manuel Kambala managed to force goalkeeper Brandon Petersen into a couple good saves in the opening 15 minutes.
The Soweto giants had to wait until the 27th minute for a meaningful effort on goal as Glody Lilepo was afforded time and space outside the box before unleashing a powerful strike that forced goalkeeper Okoth Bwire.
Lilepo went even closer ten minutes before the halftime break after meeting a corner from Sirino and guiding his towering header onto the crossbar with Bwire well-beaten on the goal-line.
The home side made a change in the attack at the start of the second half, as Mduduzi Shabalala was withdrawn after a quiet first half and replaced by Ngcobo, who netted against Stellenbosch a few days ago.
Unfortunately, the second half continued in similar fashion to the first as Chiefs shaded the possession statistics without creating much going forward while Polokwane were content with sitting back and looking to catch their opponents out on the break.
The hosts were forced into a change with 15 minutes left on the clock as Bradley Cross was stretchered off and replaced by off-season signing Paseko Mako, who was making his debut.
However, Chiefs got their reward a few minutes when two more substitutes combined after Reeve Frosler did well to pick out Siphesihle Ndlovu, who fired home his first goal for the club with a first-time strike.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 2. Monyane, 35. McCarthy, 84. Miguel, 48. Cross, 21. Cele, 5. Mthethwa, 7. Shabalala, 10. Sirino, 47. Duba, 10. Lilepo.
Subs: 30. Ntwari, 39. Frosler, 4. Kwinika, 29. Mako, 12. Ngcobo, 8. Ndlovu, 13. Mmodi, 28. Vilakazi, 9. Du Preez
Polokwane City: 50. Bwire, 42. Manthosi, 31. Motsa, 34. Nkaki, 5. Mvundlela, 21. Kambala, 14. Maphangule, 7. Ramabu, 29. Tshabalala, 8. Letshedi, 17. Dlamini
Subs: 30. Makhavhu, 22. Ramaja, 4. Nikani, 33. Mankga, 47. Batlhabane, 25. Sebone, 13. Thobo, 10. Marema, 28. Mashiane
