Kaizer Chiefs kicked off their Betway Premiership campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over Stellenbosch at Athlone Stadium.
The match turned early on when a moment of brilliance from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and a costly red card for Stellies put Chiefs in the driver’s seat.
The action started just 15 minutes into the game when new Stellenbosch defender Siviwe Nkwali was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mduduzi Shabalala at the edge of the box.
Read: Ouaddou Calls for Belief After Orlando Pirates’ Opening Day Defeat in Betway Premiership
Ngcobo stepped up to take the resulting free kick and curled a beautiful shot into the back of the net, giving Chiefs the lead.
Despite being a man down, Stellenbosch showed impressive resilience. They nearly found an equalizer when Andre De Jong’s header was cleared off the line, and moments later, Devon Titus hit the post after a brilliant solo run.
Titus continued to be a threat, forcing a sharp save from Chiefs’ goalkeeper Brandon Petersen just before halftime.
In the second half, Chiefs leveraged their numerical advantage, controlling possession and creating a host of chances. Wandile Duba and Makabi Lilepo both missed opportunities to extend the lead, but the team’s relentless pressure eventually paid off.
In the final minutes of stoppage time, Ashley Du Preez was fouled in the box, and Lilepo coolly converted the penalty to seal the 2-0 victory for Amakhosi.
The win provides a significant boost for Kaizer Chiefs, who handed debuts to Thabiso Monyane and Naledi Hlongwane. They will now look to build on this momentum when they face Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday, August 12, 2025, at 19:30.