Lethal striker Collins Mbesuma steered Kaizer Chiefs to victory when he scored the only goal of the Coca-Cola Cup final, helping them retain the trophy at the Vodacom Park Stadium on Saturday.
The goal that saw AmaKhosi break the hoodoo against Supersport United, the club who beat them in five of their previous nine games, came in the 80th minute.
In fact, it was the first-ever victory for Chiefs against the Pretoria-based outfit. United stunned Chiefs 1-0 to win the SAA Supa 8 cup in Durban a few months back.
On Saturday, United defenders failed to clear a corner kick. The ball landed on the Zambian forward, who drilled home a left-footer rattling the roof of the net.
A jubilant Chiefs coach Ted Dimitru could only say that his team played well and deserved to win.
United mentor Pitso Mosimane commended his charges for a great fight. He said they could have wrapped up the game in the 75th minute, but his boys missed two chances.
”I am not disappointed about the defeat. I am a gentleman I can take defeat. Congratulations to Chiefs. I think my boys gave a good account of themselves,” he said.
However, the visibly upset Mosimane said about some decisions taken by the match officials: ”They were diabolical. They caused us money. A clear hand ball was ignored.”
Chiefs have won the lucrative trophy three times. On Saturday, they took home R2-million while United had to settle for R1-million. Chiefs, the Glamour Boys from Phefeni, also took home gold rings (instead of medals usually awarded to winners).
Scara Ngobese was voted player of the match.
”I want to thank Chiefs management for believing in me,” said the ball juggler who took home R5 000 and a trophy. — Sapa