Pule Mmodi scored twice as success-starved Kaizer Chiefs “calmed the storm” with a 3-0 thrashing of AmaZulu on Saturday in the South African Premiership.
Venezuelan Edson Castillo also netted in Soweto to give Chiefs a first league win of the season after taking only one point from their first three matches.
Mmodi, a 30-year-old close-season signing from fellow Premiership outfit Golden Arrows, scored after four and 69 minutes and Castillo completed the rout on 87 minutes.
Winners of a record 53 domestic trophies since being formed in 1970, Chiefs have not added to their total since topping the 2015 Premiership table.
“We have calmed the storm,” said Chiefs’ new coach Molefi Ntseki, referring to supporter unhappiness with early season results.
“The boys were well organised tonight and the early goal helped us settle. AmaZulu had plenty of possession, but not in areas were they could threaten us.”
Bottles and cans were flung at controversial appointment Ntseki as he left the pitch after a loss last weekend.
Put in charge of South Africa despite never being head coach of a top-flight club, he was fired after a loss in Sudan cost Bafana Bafana (The Boys) a place at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chiefs then gave him a role developing talent and he was promoted to head coach for this season after Arthur Zwane failed to deliver any silverware in the last campaign.
Defeat for AmaZulu, who recently hired former Real Madrid assistant coach Pablo Franco, left the Durban club without a win or a goal from four outings.
“Our decision making in the attacking third was poor. After falling two goals behind, we had to take risks and that left us vulnerable at the back,” said the Spaniard.
SuperSport United came from behind to win 2-1 at Stellenbosch and move within five points of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
The winning goal came five minutes from time when Oscarine Masuluke failed to grasp a free kick and Grant Margeman struck the rebound between the legs of the goalkeeper from close range.
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