By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs’ woes continued after they were beaten 2-0 by Polokwane City in a Premier Soccer League match at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Bafana Bafana winger Oswin Appollis opened the scoring after 17 minutes before Mokibelo Ramabu sealed victory for Rise and Shine in the 90th minute.
The Limpopo outfit jumped two rungs from fifth to third on the table after collecting maximum points at home.
But Amakhosi remain outside the top eight, placed ninth on the standings after failing to claim a point. Coach Nasreddine Nabi admitted, “I’m not Mourinho” as he tried to water down expectations on him.
It was an afternoon when Chiefs welcomed back defender Inacio Miguel from suspension, while Brandon Petersen was entrusted with guarding the goal again ahead of Fiacre Ntwari.
Polokwane City featured regular players like Appollis, Thabang Matuludi, goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga, Cole Alexander and Douglas Mapfumo.
From the first whistle, it was clear the afternoon was going to be difficult for Chiefs, who allowed their opponents to take chances at goal.
Rise and Shine confirmed their determination when Rushwin Dortley struggled to clear a Tlou Nkwe cross, which was connected into the back of the net by Appollis.
Chiefs did not show the urgency expected of a side trailing and desperate to take the match back into their stride, although substitute Tebogo Potsane hit the crossbar with a volley eight minutes before full-time.
Ramabu then deflated Chiefs right at the death, killing all hopes of a comeback when he pounced on a Petersen spill after Puleng Marema had initially been denied by the Amakhosi goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch suffered their second defeat in the CAF Confederation Cup Group B.
The Maroons were beaten 3-1 by RS Berkane at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with Youssef Zghoudi grabbing a brace in the opening 15 minutes.
Reda Hajji added to Berkane’s win, while Chumani Butsaka scored Stellies’ consolation, with the Cape Winelands side sliding to the bottom of the table.
Pictured above: Polokwane City winger Oswin Appollis tussles for possession against Kaizer Chiefs’ Njabulo Blom
Source: Kaizer Chiefs
