Kaizer Chiefs are back on the winning trail in the Betway Premiership after grinding out a deserved 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday night, a result that not only lifted spirits in Naturena but also confirmed a major season target for the Soweto giants.
The win pushes Amakhosi into third place on the log and seals qualification for the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup, giving the club a continental route for next season after a campaign that has too often been defined by inconsistency, pressure and late drama. For Chiefs supporters, it was the kind of away result that feels especially valuable at this stage of the season.
Sekhukhune United, meanwhile, saw their own ambitions take a knock as their hopes of breaking into the top three disappeared. Babina Noko remain fifth in the standings and will now have to close out their campaign with little margin for error when they face Richards Bay and Siwelele FC in their remaining fixtures.
For Chiefs, the context mattered. With Mduduzi Shabalala ruled out for the rest of the season through injury, coach and technical staff turned again to Gaston Sirino, who was handed a place in the starting line-up and looked determined to make his presence felt from the opening whistle.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was one of the livelier figures on the pitch in Polokwane and nearly gave Chiefs the lead in the 38th minute. Sirino found the space he needed and hit his attempt well enough, but Sekhukhune goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata reacted sharply to keep the score level.
That save ensured the teams went into the break locked at 0-0, with Chiefs having shown more ambition without quite finding the cutting edge. It was one of those first halves that can easily drift away from a side’s grip, and Amakhosi knew they needed more urgency after the restart.
Seven minutes into the second half, Sirino had another opportunity that he will likely want back. Unmarked inside the area, the Uruguayan looked set to punish Sekhukhune, but instead miscued his effort and allowed Nsabata to collect comfortably. It was a reminder that Chiefs were creating chances, but not yet making the most of them.
Sekhukhune, to their credit, remained organised and looked capable of frustrating the visitors for long spells. But as the game entered its final phase, Chiefs began to increase the tempo and stretch the home defence with more direct movement and quicker transitions.
Kaizer Chiefs seal Betway Premiership win in Polokwane
The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute and it arrived through a substitute combination that changed the match. Glody Lilepo delivered a dangerous cross and Tashreeq Morris arrived to turn it home, giving Chiefs the lead they had chased all evening.
That goal shifted the mood completely. Sekhukhune were forced to push forward in search of an equaliser, but Chiefs stayed composed and looked more likely to score again than concede. The visitors sensed the game was there to be closed out, and they did exactly that deep into stoppage time.
Another substitute, Mfundo Vilakazi, stepped up to convert a penalty in the 90th minute plus one after Lilepo was brought down in the box. The teenager made no mistake from the spot, sealing a 2-0 win and capping a strong finish for Amakhosi.
The result will be welcomed not just because of the three points, but because it came at the right time in the season. Chiefs have often been criticised for fading in key moments, but this performance showed patience, discipline and an ability to strike late when it mattered most.
It also gave added weight to the contribution of the bench. Both goals came from substitutes, and that will be seen as a positive sign for Chiefs heading into their final two league matches against AmaZulu FC and Chippa United. With continental football now secured, those fixtures can be approached with a bit more freedom, though the club will still want to finish strongly.
For Sekhukhune, the defeat will sting because they were in the match for long periods and had enough structure to keep Chiefs at bay until the closing stages. Yet football at this level is often decided by moments, and on Sunday night, Chiefs were the side that produced them.
Nsabata’s earlier saves kept Sekhukhune alive, especially when Sirino tested him in the first half and after the break. But once Chiefs found their rhythm late on, the balance shifted quickly and decisively in favour of the visitors.
As we reported earlier in the season, Chiefs have been under pressure to turn promising spells into results, and this is exactly the kind of away win that can shape how supporters judge the campaign. It may not erase the frustrations of the months gone by, but it does provide a clear marker of progress.
The final scoreline read Sekhukhune 0 Chiefs 2, with Morris and Vilakazi delivering the decisive blows after a long, tense contest in Polokwane. For Amakhosi, it was more than just a win — it was confirmation that they will be back on the continental stage next season, and that their season still has something meaningful to play for.