The new era at Kaizer Chiefs under interim coach Cavin Johnson kicked off on a sour note as the Soweto giants suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Durban yesterday.
This was Chiefs’ fifth loss in 10 league matches, and it comes just a week after Amakhosi parted ways with Molefi Ntseki, the coach they started the 2023-2024 season with.
Ntseki was let go after Chiefs suffered another humiliating 1-0 loss against another KwaZulu-Natal side, AmaZulu FC, who eliminated them from the Carling Knockout Cup.
There was nothing different from Ntseki’s tenure that could have helped Johnson to start on a winning note. The few changes Johnson made to the starting line-up were not enough to turn what has been a terrible start to the season by Amakhosi.
Zimbabwean striker Knox Mutizwa scored a brace against a side that he has now scored six goals against. The win keeps the in-form Abafana Bes’thende four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.
Ntseki’s departure was marked by Chiefs fans throwing missiles at him as they got frustrated with the club having had a poor run in the league and in two cup competitions this season.
Johnson, whose official title is head of youth development, was roped in to replace Ntseki in the interim while the club search for their eighth head coach in nine seasons at a club that is under intense pressure to win a trophy after going an unprecedented nine years without winning one.
Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen gifted Arrows the opening goal in the 20th minute after failing to trap a harmless back pass from defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe on a wet pitch following a drizzle just before the start of the match.
Mutizwa had an easy tap in after Petersen, who has made two similar mistakes this season, had a poor first touch that led to the ball bubbling away from his feet.
Sifiso Hlanti was lucky not to be judged offside in Chiefs’ equaliser in the 23rd minute. The Chiefs’ left-back headed in Edson Castillo’s free kick, though by the time he touched the ball he was way offside.
Mutizwa’s second goal came courtesy of Chiefs’ attacking player Mduduzi Shabalala, who needlessly lost possession in the middle of the park, allowing Mutizwa to steal the ball and pass it to Nduduzo Sibiya who crossed it back to him to stab it home in the 54th minute.
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