Bradley Grobler brace sinks Kaizer Chiefs as Sekhukhune United make bold statement

Sekhukhune United are the real deal and the rest of the Betway Premiership better wake up and smell the coffee — or they’ll be chasing the shadows of Eric Tinkler’s men.

Ba Bina Noko (the Porcupines) pricked the high-flying Kaizer Chiefs’ bubble as they won the top-of-the-table clash with consummate ease, inflicting Amakhosi’s maiden loss — 3-1 — of the campaign while remaining unbeaten after six matches.

Perhaps most impressive was the fact they put three goals past the yet-to-be-breached Chiefs defence, whose followers were fast beginning to think this could be the season the glory days returned to Naturena with the championship title.

But on a cool Highveld evening, the glory went with the visitors courtesy of a brace by Bradley Grobler, who also provided the assist for birthday boy Thabang Monare, to see Sekhukhune pocketing maximum points as though taking candy from a baby.

You knew it was going to be a long night for Nasreddine Nabi’s men when they conceded as early as the fifth minute, thanks to some poor defending as Paseka Mako and Aiden McCarthy failed to communicate and tried to clear the same ball. Their failure saw Sekhukhune winning possession and Tsepo Matsimbi delivering a low cross from the right for the alert Grobler to slide in and stab it home past Brandon Petersen, who cut a deflated figure as he scooped the ball from inside the net for the first time this season.

This was a test of Chiefs’ mettle as the championship contenders their fans believe them to be this campaign, and they looked to answer that with an emphatic yes when they restored parity on 12 minutes through Flavio Silva, who profited from good work by Glody Lilepo on the right. The Congolese made a quick run to beat two markers before delivering a good cross, which Sekhukhune goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata could only parry. Silva was close to capitalise, albeit after bumping the goalkeeper’s head with his elbow. The goal stood — and it was game on.

Reeve Frosler tested Nsabata with a stinging shot from the edge of the box just after the half-hour mark, but the Zambian was alert to push the ball away.

Miguel Inácio then got himself booked shortly thereafter for illegally impeding a Chiefs run on the left, but Sekhukhune failed to profit from the resultant free-kick.

Shortly after the break, Grobler was giving Sekhukhune the lead following a defensive blunder by Chiefs, who cheaply gave possession away in the danger area. Grobler got possession with his back to goal but made a swift move and struck the ball sweetly on the turn with his left foot — and Petersen clutched at thin air.

It was his 123rd goal in the elite league, as the veteran striker closes in on the recent record of 130 goals set by Namibian goal-poacher Peter Shalulile, who usurped the legendary Siyabonga Nomvethe.

Grobler then turned provider for Monare to score on 55 minutes. A clearance from the back looked innocuous, and Chiefs allowed Grobler a free back-header onto the path of Monare. On the occasion of his 36th birthday, the veteran attacker gladly accepted what appeared to be a gift from Chiefs as they allowed him free passage towards their goals and eventually the space and time to shoot and beat Petersen.

A two-goal deficit was just too much, even for the resurgent Chiefs to claw back from — and try as hard as they did to get back into it, with numerous changes and incessant attacks backed by their chanting fans, Amakhosi were a beaten side alright.

And Sekhukhune supported Tinkler’s bold statement at the beginning of the campaign — that they are out to compete for silverware.

And they don’t come shinier than the league trophy, do they?