Kaizer Chiefs revived their challenge for the Castle Premiership title after a resounding 3-0 victory over Jomo Cosmos at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg on Wednesday night.
All the goals were scored in the first half.
A moment of silence was observed prior to the start of the game in honour of former Cosmos and Orlando Pirates midfielder Vusi Mncwango.
Mncwango, who has also represented the Under-23 national football squad and Bafana Bafana, died in Durban last Friday after a long illness.
Suspended veteran midfielder John ”Shoes” Moshoeu was the only regular player of the Naturena-based side who did not feature in the game.
The well-travelled Moshoeu is scheduled to appear before a disciplinary committee on February 4 following his media utterances.
Supporters of Chiefs were happy to see captain Patrick Mabedi, Tinashe Nengomasha and Fabian McCarthy back in the starting line-up.
Moshoeu, Mabedi, Nengomasha and McCarthy were not available when Chiefs played to a 2-2 draw with struggling Manning Rangers at Chatsworth Stadium last Sunday.
Prior to the Rangers’ game, the inconsistent Chiefs had lost 1-0 to Moroka Swallows and drew 1-1 with Limpopo outfit Dynamos.
Chiefs opened the floodgates in the sixth minute through Zambian international striker Collins Mbesuma after dribbling past three Cosmos defenders.
Mbesuma’s compatriot Songwe Chalwe grabbed his first official goal (in the 16th minute) since joining the South African football giants in August last year.
Chalwe easily headed home a cross from Arthur Zwane, who started his professional football career at Cosmos almost a decade ago.
Promising youngster Gerald Sibeko also added his name on the score sheet in the 39th minute with a thunderous shot that gave Cosmos goalie and skipper Avril Phali no chance.
It was Sibeko’s first official goal in almost three seasons at Chiefs.
The second half saw Cosmos owner-coach Jomo Sono introducing Shere Lekgothoane for John Nkambule in an attempt to neutralise the rampant Amakhosi in the middle of the park.
It was after the introduction of Lekgothoane that Ezenkosi started showing a sense of urgency but their goal-shy striking force did not trouble goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.
Three Cosmos players — Jethro Mohlala, Mark Haskins and Lucky Mhlathi — were booked by referee Jerome Damon for various reasons.
Chiefs introduced Junior Khanye for the troublesome Zwane in the 70th minute and a minute later David Mathebula replaced Sibeko.
Damon appeared to have been too harsh in sending off Cosmos striker Russell Mwafulirwa for roughly tackling defender Beevan Fransmann in the 73rd minute.
The injured Fransmann was later replaced with Derrick Spencer. Cosmos also made a change when Sono brought on Lefa Tsutsulupa for Zambian international Christopher Katongo. — Sapa