Chiefs & Pirates news: Ngcobo, Makgopa, Baartman, Appollis

Soccer Bullet | 14.08.2026 07:26

Chiefs see off Sekhukhune

Kaizer Chiefs got the better of an impressive Sekhukhune side 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Mduduzi Shabalala and Luke Baartman. 20-year-old Baartman opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, and substitute Shabalala made the points safe in the 84th. Chiefs have a 100% start to their Betway Premiership campaign. It’s a welcome result, given their recent MTN8 defeat to Golden Arrows.

Orlando Pirates stumble against Usuthu

Meanwhile, their Soweto rivals Pirates could only manage a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu, and the result came at a high cost. Goal-scorer Tshepang Moremi was withdrawn with an injury, as was Sihle Nduli. This further underlines the growing importance of Oswin Appollis to the cause.

Makgopa out for the foreseeable future

Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa will miss up to two months of action after aggravating an existing knee injury. Makgopa played through the issue at the World Cup but now requires a spell on the sidelines. Thalente Mbatha might also need surgery.

Kaizer Chiefs fans frustrated by Ngcobo

Kaizer Chiefs fans online have voiced their dissatisfaction at the defeat to Golden Arrows, and rightly so. A theme running through their frustrations has been specific criticism of Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, and they aren’t just isolated occurrences. After several injury-ravaged campaigns at the club, 26-year-old Ngcobo is fit again and featured in Chiefs’ first matches this season, although he was nowhere to be seen in the win over Sekhukhune. He came off the bench against Kruger United, and started against Arrows in the 0-1 defeat. Ngcobo’s stats don’t paint a pretty picture either.