Kaizer Chiefs resumed the DStv Premiership campaign with a vivacious first half to beat Golden Arrows 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Caleb-Bonfils Bimenyimana’s brilliant turn to fire and Edmilson Dove’s rolling finish in the first stanza were enough to down Arrows.
Mdu Shabalala was later denied with a big save in the game by Sifiso Mlungwana, receiving a brilliant pass from Reeve Frosler that left Arrows’ defence ball watching.
The performance was what coach Arthur Zwane wanted from the onset, saying they should pick up where they left off after beating Orlando Pirates late in October before the FIFA World Cup break.
While Chiefs scored all the goals in the first half, they should be happy with Itumeleng Khune, who denied Ryan Moon with a diving header in the fifth minute.
The former Chiefs striker got up well unmarked but Khune was up for the task, with Moon denied in repeating the same feat he did against Maritzburg United in the club’s previous game, but Khune pulled off a good save.
But Chiefs did not take long to get on the score sheet. Bimenyimana, who was taken off at the same venue in the second leg of MTN8 semi final in October against AmaZulu, held his marker Ntsikelelo Nxadi off before blasting it at the far corner in the 14th minute.
This means Bimenyima moves top of the scoring charts with seven goals.
Pule Mmodi thought he was fouled in the box by Dove in the 21st minute but referee Xolani Sitela waved it away though Dove’s leg came out.
Moments later, Bimenyimana almost added his second but Mlungwana was up to the task to parry it to safety.
While Arrows looked to be rattled by Chiefs’ vivacious start, Dove rolled the second after 38 minutes after Abafana Bes’Thende failed to clear the corner, with Bimenyimana on floor playing it to the Mozambican defender.
Khune was called into action to make two double tips in the second half, with Siyabonga Khumalo’s shot parried away by the legendary goalie and that of Knox Mutizwa coming off the crossbar.
This means Arrows’ honeymoon of beating Chiefs twice last season is over.
The latter win, in the second leg, was played in Durban in April when Zwane was given the caretaker post following the departure of Stuart Baxter.
Khune was making his return to the starting line-up for Chiefs after missing the past four matches and this was his first win in the starting lineup for Chiefs this season.
Chiefs were playing this game for the first time after the departure of Njabulo Blom, who was sold to St Louis City in the MLS.
His place in this game was taken by Samkelo Zwane, the son of Eugene Zwane, who played for Orlando Pirates.
