Molefi Ntseki

• Kaizer Chiefs suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss in the DStv Premiership to TS Galaxy due to an own goal by captain Brandon Petersen.
• Chiefs’ struggles continue with only one point from three matches, placing them 13th in the standings.
• Chiefs’ new coach Molefi Ntseki acknowledges team challenges.
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.

A poor start to the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season for hugely popular but success starved Kaizer Chiefs continued on Sunday when an own goal led to a 1-0 loss at TS Galaxy.

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Captain and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen conceded the own goal four minutes into the second half in the northeastern city of Mbombela to decide the third-round match.

He later made several superb saves to save Chiefs — without a trophy since 2015 — from a heavier defeat against opponents whose victory lifted them to third.

It is an unaccustomed position for Galaxy, a club coached by 44-year-old German Sead Ramovic who are more used to battles against relegation.

Chiefs, who have won a record 53 domestic trophies since being formed in 1970, have taken just one point from three matches after successive defeats and lie 13th in the 16-club standings.

Controversial new Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki said he was disappointed at the lack of aggression shown by his team.

“We were not sharp enough, not aggressive enough. We were second to every loose ball. We had several good chances, especially in the first half, but did not take them,” Ntseki said during his post-match interview.

“A number of players were signed during the close season and it will take time for them to settle in. What encourages me is the good mood in the squad.”

Ntseki added: “I think it’s been an up and down [start to the season], it’s been hot and cold if you look at the first game we played, and then we played the second game of the league, we were not as sharp,” he said.

“Then [against City in the MTN8 quarter-final] we were spot on in terms of our plan and execution – I think today if you look at how we started… shaky, we weren’t on the ball as we’d love to.

“After 15 minutes we had more possession, keeping the ball and making combinations. It’s just unfortunate, the few chances we got, mainly in the first half, we couldn’t bury those chances.”

Ntseki never coached a top-flight club before being put in charge of the senior national team and was fired after failing to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The coach said in a recent interview that much of the criticism directed at him is due to the fact that he is not a “celebrity”.

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On Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns built a five-point lead in pursuit of a seventh straight league title by winning 2-0 away to Chippa United in Gqeberha.

A pass from veteran star Themba Zwane set up Ashley Modiba to break the deadlock on 36 minutes and Justin Chabalala conceded an own goal four minutes later.