by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG – THE highly-anticipated South African football campaign has just kicked off but there is already mention of what might emerge as the goal of the season.
An audacious bicycle kick by Golden Arrows striker, Knox Mutizwa, in a 2-0 win over KwaZulu-Natal rivals Maritzburg United has been the highlight to the opening round of the 2018/19 Absa Premiership.
The Zimbabwean international’s second half finish that left goalkeeper Richard Ofori bemused has caused a stir on social media.
Fellow striker, Lerato Lamola, scored in added time to ensure Arrows returned home with maximum points.
Coincidentally, Arrows’ Siphelele Magubane won the Goal of the Season award in the previous campaign.
Meanwhile, also on Sunday, Bloemfontein Celtic put their off-field issues aside as they welcomed new head coach Steve Komphela with a 2-0 victory over Chippa United at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
It was a perfect start for former Kaizer Chiefs coach Setve Komphela which the cash strapped side requiring a confidence boost.
The season kicked off in style with the typical post-match outburst by motormouth Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and characteristic blunder by sloppy Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Wayne Sandilands.
After Chiefs and Sundowns played to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, Mosimane questioned the awarding of the man-of-the-match accolade to his former payer, Khama Billiat, now at Chiefs.
The post-match comments marred what was otherwise an entertaining match between the rivals.
“Can I ask who chooses the man of the match? Is it the SMS like in the Shell Cup? Who is the man of the match? What did he (Billiat) do?” Mosimane riposted as he walked away from the interview.
It was seen as sour grapes after the defending champions failed to hold on to the Zimbabwean international who joined Chiefs on a free contract.
An unfazed Billiat dedicated the award to his teammates.
“It’s really important to start on a high and hopefully it will take us through the league,” Billiat said.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Bidvest Wits thrashed Free State Stars 3-0 in Braamfontein while Cape Town City edged SuperSport United 2-0 in Cape Town.
Returnees Black Leopards narrowly dismissed Polokwane City 1-0 in a Limpopo derby.
Fellow returning side, Highlands Park, secured a 1-1 draw thanks to a howler by Sandilands, who inexplicably let a tame back pass roll into his own net.
League football resumes midweek.
MIDWEEK FIXTURE
Tuesday, 7 August
Polokwane City Vs Mamelodi Sundowns, (Peter Mokaba Stadium) 19h30
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Bidvest Wits (FNB Stadium) 19h30
Wednesday, 8 August
Free State Stars Vs Maritzburg United (Goble Park)19h30
Chippa United Vs Orlando Pirates (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) 19h30
SuperSport United Vs AmaZulu FC (Lucas Moripe Stadium) 19h30
Golden Arrows Vs Bloem Celtic (Princess Magogo Stadium) 19h30
Baroka FC Vs Cape Town City FC (Peter Mokaba Stadium) 19h30
Thursday, 9 August 2018
Highlands Park Vs Black Leopards (Makhulong Stadium) 19h30.
– CAJ News
