Kaizer Chiefs (0) 3
(Parker 62, Molangoane 71, Katsande 90+)
Polokwane City (1) 2
(Ramagalela 30, Tlolane 82)
JOHANNESBURG - It is such a cage of emotions. Kaizer Chiefs fans thought – finally – their team was winning. Then they weren’t. And then they were again as they clinched all three points for the first time since October 15.
Previous results, ones that had led to eight matches without a victory in all competitions, were at least obvious that they would have to wait a while longer for their day. This five-goal thriller, however, absolutely toyed with their mental state.
Fickle by nature, Chiefs supporters were noisy as they felt they had been silenced long enough when Joseph Molangoane, on his full debut for Amakhosi, gave Chiefs the lead in the 71st minute, sending them 2-1 up before Puleng Tlolane struck about 10 minutes later to get Polokwane City and their hosts level pegging.
The only moments where Amakhosi diehards could sing, speak and have a say during the club’s awful run were reduced to a mere few minutes post another defeat or draw. It was becoming a sad story and a nightmare for all those invested, more so coach Steve Komphela, who was probably on the verge of being sacked. City put up a fight when they proved yet again why they might be this season’s dark horses in the title race.
They took the lead through a Rodney Ramagalela long-range attempt in the first half and more than matched Amakhosi, as evidenced by Tlolane’s equaliser when Komphela’s men were still attempting to put the game to bed. Ramagalela more than made up for the earlier penalty miss, or save rather by goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Perhaps the tide is ultimately turning for Chiefs, even though Komphela might still be another loss away from being asked to pack his bags, given a track record that’s a tad embarrassing considering the massive stature of the club. But the beleaguered mentor will bask in this victory for sure – thanks to a last-gasp Willard Katsande winner.
When a striker who’d last found the back of the net on November 3 against Golden Arrows last year scores a crucial equaliser with the clock ticking away, it is much easier to believe it could be your day.
And it certainly was for both Komphela, the fans and forward Bernard Parker, a man clearly disillusioned after having gone more than 400 days without scoring.
The are several reasons why Parker, once considered an adequate replacement for Bafana Bafana’s all-time goal-poacher Benni McCarthy, has been misfiring. That’s a topic for another day.
Here on a lazy Sunday afternoon, Parker played the first half out wide before being moved down the middle when Komphela introduced Emmanuel Letlotlo for the ineffective Lewis Macha.
Parker not only score the first of the three goals for Chiefs, he also turned provider for Molangoane to tap home. Parker was buzzing and lifted the team to end a disastrous winless run that was breaking all kinds of records.
And when fans were despondent, it took yet another player who embodies fight and grit in Katsande to secure the winner. It was a day made for Chiefs.