It has not been the most auspicious season for Arthur Zwane — neither at club level nor on international duty for Bafana Bafana.
But the quicksilver wing burst into the limelight at Giyani Stadium on a steamy Sunday afternoon and raised the temperatures of the capacity crowd by scoring both goals in Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 Premier Soccer League (PSL) win over Dynamos.
And Zwane could not have timed the delivery of his goals any better, with the opener in the 40th minute coming at a stage when Amakhosi were labouring to gain the initiative, and the second in the 90th sealing the issue at a time when Dynamos were doggedly pursuing an equaliser.
Indeed, Zwane was unfortunate not to complete a merited hat-trick, with a snap shot from 20m immediately after his first goal crashing against the post, with Dynamos goalkeeper Arthur Bartman well beaten.
Chiefs’ first goal was initiated by Thabo Mooki and the second unselfishly put on a plate for Zwane by evergreen second-half substitute John ”Shoes” Moshoeu, who provided evidence he remains the consummate professional by passing the ball to a better-placed teammate when he might well have chosen to shoot himself.
With Moshoeu now 39, Zwane 31 and Mooki 30, the net sum of years of the three players responsible for Chiefs’ goals added up to a round sum of 100, showing that old Amakhosi soldiers don’t tend to die but continue to mature with age.
Ironically, however, it was another former Chiefs stalwart, Frank Makua, now appearing in the colours of Dynamos, who missed what was arguably the easiest chance of the game when the two teams were still evenly poised in the 25th minute and the outcome appeared very much in the balance.
Both sides missed a succession of golden opportunities and goalkeepers Rowen Fernandez (Chiefs) and Bartman produced some sterling saves, but the match seemed to sag like a punctured balloon in the second half — with the oppressive heat taking its toll.
And while the three points will be like manna from heaven for Chiefs in their uphill battle to defend the PSL title, the fact that everything is not yet fine and dandy in the Amakhosi camp was reflected in the fact that coach Ernest Middendorp resorted to calling on an extra defender, Nhlanhla Kubeka, in the second half and substituting striker David Radebe in order to protect the team’s one-goal advantage at that stage.
Arrows, Santos play to draw
Lamontville Golden Arrows played to a two-all draw against Santos in their Castle Premiership game before a poor crowd at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The half-time score was 1-0 in favour of Santos.
The visitors drew first blood in the 15th minutes of the game through Endres Burton, who produced a thunderous shot that left Kalililo Kakonje, Golden Arrows’ goalkeeper, stranded between the poles.
The home side scored an equaliser via Mabuti Khanyeza in the 47th minute, and Romano Scott of Santos increased the tally to make the score 2-1.
Alton Meering scored an equaliser for Arrows in the 63rd minute.
Bucs charge over Bucks
Not even the mortification of conceding a goal within the opening minute could prevent Orlando Pirates from charging to the top of the PSL table with a 3-1 victory over Bush Bucks at a chilly Ellis Park on Saturday night.
The Buccaneers now shade Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 earlier in the day, by a narrow goal-difference superiority in what is becoming an enthralling race for top honours this season.
But Pirates appeared nonplussed during the opening 15 minutes and might easily have trailed by two goals after Mduduzi Mdladla’s powerful header had opened the score after only 50 seconds.
The diminutive Joseph Makhanya was instrumental in Pirates shaking off their shackles, while initiating goals by Phumudzo Manenzhe (15th minute) and timely substitute Lelo Mbele with only seconds of the opening half remaining.
The gallant, unflappable Bush Bucks, however, remained in contention until the 78th minute when Fisher Kondowe performed a kamikaze act by grabbing Pirates substitute Lebohang Mokoena round the neck to concede a penalty and receive a yellow card.
Mbele recorded his second goal from the penalty spot to make the score 3-1 and virtually signal the end of Bush Bucks’ resistance.
No goals for Stars, Tembisa Classic
Free State Stars and Tembisa Classic laboured to a goalless draw in a PSL game played at Charles Mopeli Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Both coaches made two changes, hoping for a lucky goal that never came. Goalkeepers from both sides, together with their back-liners, made sure that the strikers were frustrated throughout the game by saving all dangerous balls that came their way.
Ironically, the two teams are new in this league and, unless they pull up their socks, they might find themselves in the danger zone at the end of the season or back in the Mvela league.
From five games, Stars have managed to collect only four points from four draws and failed to win a single game this season. They are currently occupying position 13, while Classic have collected five points from five games, which came from two draws and one win to take them to position 11. — Sapa