The DStv Premiership continued on with its opening weekend with five more fixtures on Saturday in what will be a busy week for clubs in South Africa’s top division. Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs encountered different fates in their opening matches with the Bucs edging out another Soweto side in Swallows FC. Meanwhile, Chiefs fell to Royal AM for the third consecutive time in a poor start to manager Arthur Zwane’s reign as permanent manager.
Orlando Pirates and newly promoted Richards Bay were the teams who triumphed in the early slate of matchups with Cameroonian striker Bienvenu Eva Nga delivering the winner on a dream debut for Pirates. It took less than ten minutes for the former Chippa United marksman to strike with a poacher’s finish after Kabelo Dlamini caused trouble with a run into the Swallows penalty area and that was enough for the Sea Robbers to earn three points on manager José Riveiro’s debut.
An opportunistic Richards Bay earned three points on the road with a 2-0 result in Durban against Golden Arrows courtesy of goals from Somila Ntsundwana and former Orlando Pirates player Abel Mabaso. Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC played out a 0-0 draw to complete the early matches.
There was plenty of anticipation for Kaizer Chiefs’ opener but Amakhosi fell victim to DStv Premiership disruptors Royal AM at the Chatsworth Stadium, a venue where it is always difficult for visitors to obtain points. Former longtime Mamelodi Sundowns center back Ricardo Nascimento stunned Chiefs with a goal in the opening minute following a corner kick that was poorly cleared by the Chiefs defense.
In the late match there were more contributions from former Orlando Pirates players as Tshegofatso Mabasa finished off a first half long ball from Linda Mntambo to give Sekhukhune United the lead when Maritzburg United goalkeeper King Ndlovu made a terrible misjudgment. The hosts would level from the penalty spot through yet another former Pirates player making his debut, Sam Bongani, but when presented with another spot kick a couple minutes later Bonginkosi Makume’s effort was well denied by Zambia national team keeper Toaster Nsabata.
Highlights from the Orlando Pirates and Royal AM victories are below.
Golden Arrows 0-2 Richards Bay
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Swallows FC
Marumo Gallants 0-0 Stellenbosch FC
Royal AM 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Maritzburg United 1-1 Sekhukhune United
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Swallows FC
Royal AM 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs