By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs ended their decade-long trophy drought with a sensational 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs have not won any trophies since 2015. Their last Nedbank Cup final, in 2019, saw them stunned 1-0 by then-second tier side TS Galaxy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium – the venue for this Saturday’s final.
Amakhosi’s woes have only worsened since then. They are ninth in the league with two matches left to play and face the possibility of going without MTN8 football for a second season in a row.
Pirates got off to a poor start, as Deano van Rooyen conceded a penalty inside the opening 15 minutes which Gaston Sirino slotted home to send the Amakhosi faithful into ecstasy in Durban.
But the lead lasted less than ten minutes, as Evidence Makgopa levelled matters as he headed home an inch-perfect freekick from Deon Hotto, making it back to back goals in the Derby, and his 10th this season across all competitions.
The second half was less entertaining from a chance creation point of view, with neither Brandon Petersen or Sipho Chaine having much to do, but the fight between the two sides were evident, it was a clear war between two fierce rivals aiming for cup glory on the day.
And the goal came from the much-maligned captain Yusuf Maart, who has divided opinion amongst the club’s supporters over the years, with a stunning winner from range with his weaker left foot.
Chiefs managed to hold onto the lead and secure a memorable victory, their first silverware since winning the league in the 2014/15 season and ending the dream of Pirates securing a three-peat of the competition.