Shahied Joseph

Kaizer Chiefs moved into the top half of the Absa Premiership table after walloping Moroka Swallows 3-1 in a league match at a packed Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Sunday. Mabhuti Khenyeza, Jonathan Quartey and Thuso Phala scored for Chiefs, while Swallows' lone goal came from the boot of James Chamanga.

In February this year Santos beat Moroka Swallows 4-1 in an Absa Premiership league game, and on Friday night the Cape side transformed their fine league form in to an emphatic 3-1 Nedbank Cup tournament win against the same opponents at the Germiston Stadium on Friday night.

Just before kick-off on Sunday at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein Celtic supporters shouted at Santos substitute players to move off their team's bench, and they obeyed. After the Premier Soccer League game -- in which Celtic lost 1-0 to Santos despite a spirited showing -- angry Celtic fans had to be closely watched by police.

Moroka Swallows coach Ian Gorowa says his team will not take their Nedbank Cup last-32 clash against National First Division side the African Warriors lightly. The two clubs meet on Wednesday after their game was postponed due to rain on Saturday. ''We're definitely not going to take this game easy,'' Gorowa said.

A win for the Black Leopards on Wednesday will not get them out of the relegation zone and victory for Mamelodi Sundowns will not take them in to the top half of the Absa Premiership table. That is what both teams want and obviously won't get. However, victory will take them closer to their destinations.

A pedestrian Bafana Bafana outfit needed an own goal to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in a friendly international match at the Germiston Stadium on Tuesday evening. Gilbert Mushangazhike struck first for the visitors in the 12th minute. Sthembiso Ngcobo equalised in the 73rd minute and his feeble shot at goal deflected off James Matola late in extra time to give the hosts an unforeseen victory.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic drew 0-0 in an exciting Premier Soccer League match on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld to both remain in the bottom half of the 16-team table. Sundowns, though, jumped to 12th place with 25 points, while Celtic stay 11th on 26 points.

Platinum Stars maintained their impressive record against Kaizer Chiefs as they held the Soweto club to a 0-0 draw in a Premier Soccer League match at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday evening. Chiefs remain in 12th place with 24 points from 21 games and Stars stay put in ninth place with 26 points.

Jomo Cosmos again showed why they are in the relegation zone when 10-man Free State Stars held them to a goalless draw at the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney on Wednesday. Stars had the better chances but good goalkeeping by Cosmos keeper Avril Phali denied them victory.

SuperSport United cut Ajax Cape Town's lead at the top of the Premier Soccer League to one point after a superb goal by Dane Klate gave the hosts a 3-2 victory over Ajax on Tuesday night. Kermit Erasmus scored his first goal for Matsatsantsa in the 23rd minute, but Nathan Paulse equalised six minutes later for the Cape club.

Premier Soccer League log leaders Ajax Cape Town and the ever-improving Santos will face Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates respectively in the last-32 round of the inaugural Nedbank Cup. The draw involving the Soweto clubs attracted loud applause from the crowd and there was also a huge roar of approval for the R6-million first prize.

A 10-man Golden Arrows team beat the listless Moroka Swallows 1-0 in an Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Free State Stars ensured Black Leopards remained bottom of the log when they beat them 2-1 in Thohoyandou.