A point is not enough for Nabi’s Chiefs to finish in the top eight.
Kaizer Chiefs will not play in the MTN8 for the second season in a row after a goalless draw with Polokwane City at FNB Stadium in their final Betway Premiership match of the season.
While Amakhosi have lifted the Nedbank Cup, their first trophy in a decade, this has been a miserable end to their Premiership campaign.
Chiefs’ Premiership misery is complete
Chiefs failed to win any of their last nine league matches. It remains to be seen if winning the cup is enough to keep head coach Nasreddine Nabi in his job.
As Chiefs failed to find a way past a side that had not kept a clean sheet in its last nine matches, sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr and football manager Bobby Motaung did not exactly look best pleased in the director’s box.
Nabi handed Tashreeq Morris a first start for Chiefs in over a month, but it didn’t last long.
Morris struggled against Polokwane City’s defence and the Chiefs coach hauled him off before half time.
Chiefs were getting more joy down City’s flanks, particularly on the right wing. In the 20th minute, Dillon Solomons broke forward and thundered a shot back off the post. Morris failed to get enough power on his header from the rebound, and City’s Kenyan ‘keeper Brian Bwire easily gathered.
Chiefs also came close to grabbing the lead on the half hour mark. Mduduzi Shabalala’s cross, was touched by Bwire straight to Inacio Miguel. But the Angolan defender, sporting his new blonde haircut, could direct the ball into an empty net.
City’s glorious chance
City were not creating much, but they did waste a glorious chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute.
Mokibelo Ramabu danced past Bradley Cross and slid a ball across the face of goal. But Bonginkosi Dlamini, arriving at the far post, somehow managed to shoot wide.
In the 40th minute, Solomons did well to win a free kick and Cross’ delivery found Edmilson Dove. The Mozambican’s header hit the top of the crossbar and went out of play.
Nabi brought on Mfundo Vilakazi for the second half, the Chiefs youngster fresh from winning the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with Amajita.
It was a scrappy start to the second stanza. Glody Lilepo was booked for raising an elbow and then Thato Letshedi was also shown yellow for a cynical challenge on Ashley Du Preez.
Letshedi was actually fortunate, because he should really have also been booked for a first half foul on Solomons.
Chiefs hit the woodwork again
Chiefs came close again on the hour mark as Solomons found space on the right and his cross clipped the bar, before Lilepo’s shot was saved by Bwira.
In the 64th minute, Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart stopped to head in from a corner, but his effort was cleared off the line by Langelihle Ndlovu.
Three minutes later, Lilepo did brilliantly to find Du Preez in the box, but the Chiefs striker volleyed his chance just over the bar.
City almost won it in stoppage time as Ramabu’s long range shot deflected off Miguel and Brandon Peterson sprung to his left to produce a fine save.
Chiefs were then left screaming for a penalty as Vilakazi went down in the box, but referee Moreki Lekwape waved their appeals away.
