Kaizer Chiefs reserves clinched the 2024/25 DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) title with a decisive 3-0 victory over Magesi at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
This result put them in an uncatchable position at the summit of the league with one round left and it it is the first time Chiefs’ reserve side has been crowned DDC champions.
The Soweto giants’ victory is made even more impressive considering they accomplished this without four key players: goalkeeper Takalani Mazhamba, defenders Gopolang Taunyana and Sifiso Timba, and striker Naledi Hlongwane. These players are currently representing Amajita at the CAF 2025 AFCON Under-20 tournament in Egypt.
Chiefs’ success dethrones Stellenbosch FC, the reigning DDC champions who had previously secured the title in the 2021/22 and 2023/24 campaigns.
On Saturday, Imaad Hendricks’ 36th minute opener gave Amakhosi a halftime lead, and further strikes from Nkosana Mbuthu in the 75th minute and Thulani Mabaso, nine minutes later, ensured the win that sealed the title.
At the end of last weekend’s matches, Chiefs, on 62 points, held a one-point lead over Stellenbosch and had a game in hand over their only challengers in the race.
However, on Friday, 25 April the PSL Disciplinary Committee ruled that Chippa United had failed to honour their fixture against Chiefs on 1 February, and awarded Amakhosi a 3-0 win.
That decision elevated Chiefs to 64 points, extending their lead over Stellenbosch to four points going into the penultimate round on Saturday. Amakhosi’s victory together with Stellenbosch’s 3-0 loss to Marumo Gallants, leaves an even wider gap of six points between the two, with only three points left to play for in next weekend’s final round of fixtures.
The newly-crowned champions conclude the campaign with an away fixture against AmaZulu next Saturday, 3 May.
An elated Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Jr Motaung expressed his overwhelming pride on social media.
“Could not be more proud. Congratulations Kaizer Chiefs for a smart, passion filled and hard fought DDC league campaign,” he said on his X [Twitter] account.
“Your spirit has brought glory and pride to the Amakhosi Nation. Great way to celebrate 10 years of DDC reserve team football.”