Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane desperately needed the win over Orlando Pirates to offload the pressure that was starting to pile up on his shoulders, according to Zwane’s ex-teammate Justice Sithole.
Chiefs beat Pirates with a wonder goal by Yusuf Maart who caught Siyabonga Mpontshane in no man’s land after the goalie had been out of his line in the 74th minute at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The win saw Chiefs leapfrog Pirates to fourth n the DStv Premiership table with 21 points after 13 matches.
Even Zwane, after the goal was scored, jumped for joy as he won his first Derby as a coach, the match he also scored 15 years ago as a Chiefs player.
“It was a great win for Arthur and this was something he needed and it came at the right time against Pirates,” said Sithole.
“Arthur has been under a huge pressure from everyone because results weren’t forthcoming, so it was tough for him.
“To get this win and to that matter against Pirates, it will come as a relief to him, and Chiefs as well from the pressure they were facing.”
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Sithole knows Zwane well, having played with him at Chiefs. He won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 2001 (now CAF Confed Cup), BP Top Eight, and Coca-Cola Cup twice.
The Newcastle-born striker was also part of the Chiefs side that lost 4-1 in the CAF Super Cup against Al Ahly in 2002, replacing the anonymous Shaun Permall under then coach Muhsin Ertugral.
However, the 41-year-old, feels the win for Chiefs and Zwane came at the bad time because of the 2022 FIFA World Cup break coming up.
Unlike Pirates who have a chance to redeem themselves in the MTN8 final next weekend against AmaZulu, this was Chiefs’ last game until the world’s showpiece event ends in December.
“This win was going to be a whole lot better if the league was not stopped, but now it will be hard for Zwane to rekindle this morale,” rued Sithole.
“They also played as a team. I think for the first time I watched Chiefs against Pirates, I saw a difference. They wanted it more and it is why I feel this break will cost them dearly. Hopefully it won’t.”
Sithole, unlike Zwane, owns an amateur football club in Newcastle in KZN called Newcastle Warriors FC, playing in the Men’s Regional League in Amajuba District. They have produced a few players in the Motsepe Foundation Championship and DStv Diski Challenge, the PSL reserve league.
