JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs won, Mamelodi Sundowns drew and Orlando Pirates lost when the 2014-2015 South African Premiership kicked off this weekend.
George Lebese scored a messy goal on 55 minutes to give Chiefs a 1-0 victory away to Free State Stars in central town Phuthaditjhaba.
The game was played on a cabbage-patch Charles Mopeli Stadium pitch that embarrassed a league considered the most professional in Africa.
Add grey, cold South African winter weather and it was not the start new Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet wanted at Stars, who narrowly avoided relegation last season.
A trophy-less previous season stung Chiefs and captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune says his team want to atone by achieving a clean sweep.
What this victory proved was that Chiefs – sometimes criticised for lacking fighting spirit – can slug it out to achieve ‘ugly’ victories.
Title-holders Sundowns upset their supporters at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria by only drawing 1-1 with traditional lower-half rivals Maritzburg United.
Katlego Mashego put Sundowns ahead within two minutes only for Ghanaian Mohammed Awal to equalise by converting a late penalty.
Fans hurled verbal abuse at home coach Pitso Mosimane, who said the anger was understandable.
“We have to respect the fans because they pay our salaries,” stressed the 50-year-old former national team coach.
“They are entitled to be unhappy. When you do not win, you can become a bad coach overnight.”
Sundowns are bankrolled by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe and invested far more in close-season signings than any rival.
Poor finishing plagued former African champions Pirates as they slumped 2-1 at Orlando Stadium to visiting fellow Soweto club Moroka Swallows.
A wicked deflection allowed Lantshele Phalane to put the ‘Birds’ ahead and Oupa Manyisa levelled from the penalty-spot before half-time.
The ‘Buccaneers’ squandered several good chances to go ahead before substitute Lerato Chabangu scored off a close-range shot nine minutes from time.
Swallows had a disastrous last season and coach Zeca Marques needs a good league start to silence critics.
Pirates averaged just one goal a game last season when coming fourth and achieving more clinical finishing must top the wish list of Serb coach Vladimir Vermezovic.
Promoted Chippa United were the only home winners in eight matches and a 2-0 beating of cup specialists Platinum Stars took them to the top on goal difference.
Captain Andile Mbenyane and David Zulu scored within 28 minutes for the ‘Chilli Boyz’ at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Wits University, third last season and considered title dark horses, won 1-0 at SuperSport United courtesy of a Sthembiso Ngcobo penalty 20 minutes from time.
Awal was among three foreigners to score with Zimbabwean Tendai Ndoro putting Mpumalanga Black Aces ahead at Bloemfontein Celtic and Botswanan Joel Mogorosi equalising in a 1-1 draw. – Nampa-AFP
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