If getting to the top is hard, staying there is even harder and this much Ama-khosi will be quick to appreciate as they strive to hold on to the Absa Premiership title.
Chiefs began the 2015/16 campaign with a share of the spoils against a 10-man Chippa United side that hardly afforded the champions any respect.
And as it was, the Chilli Boys could so easily have stolen all three points were it not for the alertness and bravery of prodigal son Itumeleng Khune.
The goalkeeper denied Chippa captain James Owuosa what would probably having been the winner on 73 minutes. A beautifully floated free-kick by Eric Chipeta from the right landed flush on the Nigerian defender’s head and he redirected the ball back across goal towards the far corner but Khune stretched his foot to keep it out.
Then five minutes from time Khune showed his bravery when he dived low to block a threatening attack after Mark Mayambela had threaded through a fantastic low pass.
At the venue where they were crowned last season, Chiefs would have been the favourites of many to grab maximum points following their splendid showing midweek when they came from 2-0 down to beat Maritzburg United 5-3 in the MTN8 quarter-finals. But Chippa had other ideas and took the game to the visitors from the outset with Mayambela, Rhulani Manzini and Joseph Malongoane at the forefront of their attacks.
Yet when Malongoane got his marching orders some 10 minutes before the break, it looked like the tide would turn Chiefs’ way and they’d begin their championship defence on a winning note.
And they nearly did when Siphiwe Tshabalala delivered a fantastic shot from the edge of the box to beat Dalyan Hayes in the Chippa goal only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar.
But before that Chippa had been very impressive as they asked questions of the Chiefs defence, Mayambela wasting a free-kick and then working his way into the box but delivering a poor final cross.
Their pacy attacks and great passing allowed Roger Sikhakhane’s team to open up Amakhosi’s defence and there were moments when Siyanda Xulu and Erick Mathoho looked a bit shaky.
But once they found their footing and Malongoane was sent off, Chiefs took control of the match and found their way into the opposition’s danger area.
David Zulu had a chance to open up for Chiefs but dilly-dallied with the ball inside the box and got dispossessed following splendid combination play between Bernard Parker and Reneilwe Letsholonyane. But Chippa held firm and hardly looked like they were outnumbered as they tries to catch Chiefs on the break.
Yet even with the changes both sides made, the goals were not forthcoming and left the two sides having to be content with the single point – Chippa no doubt pleased but Chiefs aware of just how hard it will be to hold on to their title.
In the other game yesterday Rodney Ramagalela netted the winner as 10-man Golden Arrows held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win against Tuks. - The Star