Kaizer Chiefs: A Legacy of Dominant Season Starters

Kaizer Chiefs commence their 55th season in the professional top-flight league today. Historically, the club, known as Amakhosi, has often begun their campaigns with a significant victory. This article reviews the standout teams and individuals from the opening days of past seasons.

Between 1971 and 1979, the Chiefs impressively remained undefeated in their opening top-flight games, winning each of their first eight matches. This winning streak featured remarkable victories, including an 11-1 triumph over African Wanderers in 1971. The team also defeated Mangaung United 5-1 at home in 1972, secured a 7-1 victory against Witbank Black Aces in 1973, and experienced another significant win over African Wanderers with a 10-1 result in 1974. That year, Chiefs won the league title.

Ace Ntsoelengoe is one of the club’s legendary figures, noted for scoring over 240 goals. He demonstrated a particular affinity for scoring in opening games against African Wanderers. In 1971, he scored four goals in an 11-1 win, five in a 10-1 victory in 1974, and four again in the 1975 6-1 triumph. Ntsoelengoe was also on the scoresheet during a 7-1 win against Witbank Black Aces in 1972, as well as in their 1-0 victory against Welkom Real Hearts in 1979, where he scored the decisive penalty.

Kaizer Motaung, the club’s founder and chairman, was also a key player on the field. In 1973, he notably scored four goals during a 7-1 victory over Witbank Black Aces, finishing the season with nine league goals.

During the PSL era, two Chiefs players have delivered outstanding performances in the opening games. In the 2004-05 season, Collins Mbesuma scored a hattrick against Dynamos, propelling Chiefs to a 4-1 victory. Mbesuma’s remarkable season saw him net a total of 25 league goals. Another notable performance came from Bernard Parker, who scored four goals in a 6-0 victory over AmaZulu in Durban during the 2012-13 season, marking Chiefs’ biggest opening game win in the PSL era.