ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Monday 3.00pm.
THE times they are a changing … Kaizer Chiefs failed to score in two Castle Premiership matches last week and find themselves seven points behind leaders Sundowns despite having played two matches more.
It would never have happened in the success-filled days of the early 1990s when the legendary striking partnership of Fani Madida and Shane MacGregor cut defences to shreds each week.
After having defender Martin Zwane sent off in a drab, midweek goalless draw with Hellenic at Johannesburg Stadium, Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral must have expected more success away to bottom-of-the-table Bush Bucks in Umtata.
But the signs loomed large long before the kickoff that it was going to be another frustrating day for the Turk fired as coach of Zaire during the 1996 African Nations Cup after objecting to the sports minister picking the team.
When Chiefs players left their East London hotel for the three-hour drive to Umtata they had to hitch lifts in the minibuses of supporters because the team bus had broken down.
It only got worse with Ertugral replacing ineffective Cameroon striker Halidou Malam after 30 minutes with the equally disappointing Dennis Vukubi, who gave way to Jabu Pule early in the second half.
Bucks may have won only once in 12 previous league encounters, but they were unlucky not to collect maximum points with two superb saves from national squad goalkeeper Brian Baloyi foiling them in a frantic finale.
Striker Patrick Mayo was a constant threat to Chiefs and Zimbabwean William Mugeyi was out of luck five minutes into the second half when a curling free kick rebounded off the woodwork.