Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2
Mathoho 58, Macha 90
Orlando Pirates 0
FNB Stadium - They say that winning the Carling Black Label Cup is a curse.
In fact, fans often feel sweeping everything before you during the pre-season is a bad omen for the rest of the new campaign. But Chiefs were always going to have the upper hand against arch-rivals Pirates, who are still finding their feet under recently appointed coach Muhsin Ertugral.
The players aren’t too sure what he wants just yet, and are also getting used to his theatrics on the touchline.
His opposite number, Steve Komphela, was calm, partly because this wasn’t really supposed to be his show.
The format of this “Beer Cup” is such that two rival supporters get the opportunity of a lifetime by “calling the shots” from the dugout while the real coaches sit back and watch.
The Chiefs trainer hardly moved from his seat, while his Pirates counterpart barely sat on his.
As you would expect, there were a lot of rusty legs out there, so entertainment value was in short supply. The spectators loved it, though.
They have been starved of local football since the end of May when the Buccaneers were hammered 3-1 in the Nedbank Cup final by SuperSport United.
They will still require a little bit of patience for another three weeks as the domestic league only kicks off on August 23, but Saturday was a nice little appetiser - especially for the Chiefs fans.
Amakhosi had a greater understanding of each other’s movements than the Buccaneers.
There have been drastic changes in the technical team and 10 new players have been brought in, but the head coach is still Komphela, which gave Chiefs the edge.
Pirates have also been busy in the transfer market, their biggest change being the man in charge. That is obviously going to take a while, and there was no way things could have fallen into place that quickly.
Chiefs are still missing a goal scorer, though. They have signed several strikers to fix that problem, but the fans didn’t vote for them because they simply just do not have a clue who they are just yet.
Lewis Macha and young Emmanuel Letlotlo were paraded in the dying minutes of this Soweto Derby and will hope to endear themselves to the Amakhosi faithful. Macha now has a head start.
It was then left to old boy Bernard Parker to lead the line and it was a decent outing, but not one that inspired enough confidence to believe he will lead the line as Chiefs seek to restore their pride following a barren season.
Parker’s thunderous shot came off the woodwork for defender Eric Mathoho to guide the ball into the net for the opener just before the hour mark.
Macha then scored on debut to guarantee victory for the Glamour Boys, a well-taken headed goal that beat Brighton Mhlongo at the near post.
Pirates have their work cut out in trying to please coach Ertugral, but sometimes winning friendlies can be a curse.
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