Chiefs start title defence with a win, Stellies make bold statement

Football fans in Hammarsdale were treated to a football fest this past weekend when they DStv Diski Challenged kicked off with electrifying fixtures at Mpumalanga Stadium.

Despite the gloomy weather on Saturday, fans came out in numbers for the first festival of the season. With the clubs having reinforced their squad, there were lot of new faces, and they definitely impressed.

KAIZER CHIEFS 2-1 ORBIT COLLEGE

Diski Challenge reigning champions, Kaizer Chiefs started their campaign with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Orbit College on Sunday afternoon.

Orbit were dealt an early blow when captain Ikaneng Ramosala was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Chiefs made no mistake as they used their numerical advantage and scored the opening goal in the 13th minute through the ever improving Pheko Phago.

Orbit showed grit and die hard attitude as they cut Chiefs celebrations short when they leveled matters 12 minutes before the break through Lucky Malatsi.

However, Chiefs restored their lead before the halftime when Neo Bohloko converted from a spot kick.

In the second half, there was not much to wrote home about. Chiefs were also reduced to 10 man when Imaan Hendricks was sent off for dangerous tackle on goalkeeper Kopano Segoe who produced a man-of-the-match perfomance

AMAZULU 1-4 STELLENBOSCH FC

Stellenbosch FC displayed a convincing performance when they thumped AmaZulu 4-1 on Sunday.

Last season's runners-up took the lead after just four minutes courtesy of a lovely goal from Kyle Bailey.

The lead was doubled in the 13th minute through Kenan Johanessen, who fired home from close range.

Kwanele Mbayi pulled one back for AmaZulu ten minutes before the halftime break.

However, the Cape Winelands outfit carried that dominance into the second half, as Johanessen got himself a brace and Turic Gameldin was also on the scoresheet.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 1-1 SIWELELE

Mamelodi Sundowns were held to 1-1 draw by Siwelele on Sunday. Manelis Mazibuko gave Siwelele the lead after 20 minutes into the contest, before Oarabile Booysen levelled matters for the Brazilians just before the halftime break. In the second half both teams couldn’t get any goals and they had to settle for a draw.

DURBAN CITY 3-3 ORLANDO PIRATES

This was another banger of a match as Pirates had to come from two goals down to secure a point in the dying minutes of the game.

Durban City attacker Lindokuhle Chonco who was making his debut in the league was a man of the moment as he bagged a hat-trick on the opening weekend of Diski. Pirates drew the first blood in the 15th minute through Samkelo Zikalala but their celebrations lasted for two minutes as Chonco levelled matters for Daine Klate’s team.

Seven minutes later, it was Chonco again who found the back of the net, putting City in the driving seat.

Pirates were made to chase shadows as City dominated the first half and scored the third goal just before the break where Conco completed his hat-trick.

But new Pirates’ coach Roscoe Krieling was able to secure a point from the bench as Pirates finished on a high scoring later goals through Moses Mphekgoane and Cristian Derbyshire.