WeeklySA_AdminJITTERS: HISTORY WILL RECORD AMAKHOSI TEND TO FALTER AGAINST MINNOWS IN CUP GAMES
By Ali Mphaki
April 24, 2011, will register one of the biggest upset in South African football history at the time and is the first, and only, time Kaizer Chiefs had been beaten by third-tier opposition in their illustrious 40-year history.
The 2-1 loss continued the fairytale for minnows Baroka FC and made their players instant celebrities in the domestic game, as well as hugely raising the profile of coach Sello Chokoe.
It all appeared to be going to plan for AmaKhosi as Zimbabwean hot-shot Knowledge Musona put Chiefs ahead in the 36th minute. Skipper Jimmy Tau raced down the right and crossed for Musona, whose left footed strike hit the roof of the net.
But Baroka were back on level terms just a minute before the break, veteran Sam Ndlovu heading home from a corner to stun the visitors.
Chiefs had numerous opportunities in the second half to secure the win, but after a litany of misses, were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal.
Baroka striker Thobani Mncwango bundled the ball home in injury time after a melee in the box to complete the greatest victory in the club’s short history. This remains the only time a third-tier side had beaten Premiership opposition in the quarterfinals.
Fast forward to 2024 Chiefs will play at home against National First Division (NFD) outfit, Milford FC, in the Last 32 of the 2024 Nedbank Cup.
The prestigious competition offers Amakhosi a wonderful opportunity to end their loyal fanbase’s long wait for a major trophy and they will feel confident of getting past the KwaZulu Natal-based team that currently sits in 12th place in the NFD standings, with only five wins from 17 matches.
Based on their last game Chiefs will feel they deserved more than the one point they gained following a goalless draw against Royal AM in their first DStv Premiership fixture of 2024 at the Harry Gwala stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. Notwithstanding the absence of goals, the thousands of loyal Amakhosi faithful who braved the grey and damp conditions in the provincial capital of KwaZulu-Natal were treated to an entertaining game between competitive two teams.
While any ‘David v Goliath’ match-up is always a potential banana skin for a heavy favourite, as they are expected to win comfortably and anything less is criticised as a failure, Chiefs believes the key to avoiding such a trap lies in their preparation for the encounter.
“We don’t know much about them,” he admits, “but at the end of the day, it is all about focusing on ourselves, preparing and remaining focused on our objective to win. Our only objective is to win this Cup, there’s nothing more. We have only one thing in our minds,” warned central defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe
Kick-off 6pm.
