A jinx difficult to fathom
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday November 15, 2016 15:57
Chiefs and the Mascom Top 8 have proved to be the irreconcilable oil and water in the last six years, and that statistic remained intact after another mind blowing defeat.
Hopes were raised when Chiefs left on Saturday morning for Jwaneng. Their Top 8 opponents have been struggling, plunging to position 15 out of 16 in the BTC Premiership.
Chiefs on the other hand were fresh from a clinical demolition job when they pounded a hapless Mahalapye Hotspurs 4-0 the previous weekend.
But at the end of the game, Chiefs found themselves examining a familiar mangled heap after yet another Top 8 disappointment.
Nothing has changed at all; the more things change, the more they remain the same for Chiefs. Galaxy is a new comer in the competition, but that did not alter Chiefs’ fortunes.
Since inception six seasons back, Chiefs have failed to progress beyond the semi finals, twice suffering enduring pain in the hands of bitter rivals, Township Rollers.
When Chiefs and Galaxy finished tied at 0-0 in the first leg a fortnight ago, there were no signs of an immediate crash landing.
Reports from Jwaneng indicate that Chiefs were quicker off the blocks with Stan Ngala fluffing an early glorious opportunity of partially exorcising the Top 8 ghost. The introduction of Dirang Moloi in the first half failed to tilt the tie in Chiefs favour after Sekhana Koko’s telling contribution in the 22nd minute.
If Chiefs had thought they were still in the tournament, their hopes were decisively squashed just before half time when Thato Kebue saw red for a horror tackle on Koko. That tackle ended Kebue and Chiefs afternoon.
Olebogeng Malebye brutally ripped apart Chiefs thread bare lifeline late on with an immaculate second, and Bongani Mafu’s maiden appearance in the Top 8 ended the same way it has concluded for Mike Sithole, Madinda Ndlovu and Benston Chambeshi.
No coach has managed to lead Chiefs to Top 8 glory despite the Kgatleng giants being a comprehensive factor in the league.