For the second season in a row, Kaizer Chiefs have failed to secure a spot in the top after playing to a goalless draw against Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Polokwane City
Date: 24 May 2025
Venue: FNB Stadium
Coach Nasreddine Nabi recalled Inacio Miguel, Tashreeq Morris, Bradley Cross and Sibongiseni Mthethwa following the draw against Sekhukhune United last weekend.
Both sides had ambitions of finishing in the top eight heading into this encounter, although Rise and Shine knew that a draw would be enough to secure a top-half finish.
It took a while for the two sides to get going in the first half, as Chiefs had to wait until the 20th minute for a big chance as Dillan Solomons hit the upright, while they were unable to profit from the rebound.
Rise and Shine, who claimed the spoils in this fixture earlier this season, struggled to get any attacks going in the first half as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was hardly tested.
The hosts nearly got the breakthrough five minutes before the halftime break when Edmilson Dove rose well to meet a corner but sent his header crashing against the crossbar with Okoth well-beaten.
Having already withdrawn Morris for Ashley du Preez before the break, Nabi opted to introduce U-20 Africa Cup of Nations winner Mfundo Vilakzi for Wandile Duba at the start of the second half.
The success of the Nedbank Cup may have overshadowed the team's performances in the league for a small period, although it was not hard to see why the team came into the clash winless in their last eight league encounters.
The Soweto giants looked out of ideas for most of the second period, while Rise and Shine were happy to sit back and hold out for a point.
That proved to be the trend for the remainder of the first half as Chiefs were unable to make the breakthrough and will finish in the bottom of half of the table for back-to-back seasons.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 48. Cross, 2. Dove, 84. Miguel, 18. Solomons, 5. Mthethwa, 8. Maart, 99. Lilepo, 36. Duba, 42. Shabalala, 40. Morris
Subs: 30. Ntwari, 35. McCarthy, 36. Zwane, 17. Castillo, 12. Ngcobo, 10. Sirino, 38. Vilakazi, 9. Du Preez, 7. Chivaviro
Polokwane City: 50. Okoth, 42. Manthosi, 33. Ndlovu, 4. Nikani, 34. Nkaki, 21. Kambala, 14. Maphangule, 17. Dlamini, 15. Raphadu, 8. Letshedi, 7. Ramabu
Subs: 40. Mathebula, 31. Motsa, 43. Gwanqa, 46. Ngwenya, 47. Batlhabane, 45. Ramushu, 16. Goovadia, 22. Makhubela, 23. Ntamane
