Kaizer Chiefs DDC side beat Lifofane FC in Lesotho friendly

Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge team defeated Lesotho Premier League side Lifofane FC 3-1 in a friendly at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Donay Jansen, Kamogelo Malefo and Benjamin Eliyahu scored for the visitors, while former Amakhosi defender Kgotso Moleko replied for Lifofane.

The match also provided an opportunity for Mduduzi Shabalala to continue his return to full fitness. Shabalala was included in the squad that travelled to the neighbouring country, having missed most of Kaizer Chiefs’ pre-season tour of Spain because of injury.

Although he travelled with the first team to Spain, Shabalala’s involvement in the tour was limited. With the Betway Premiership season already under way, his appearance for the DStv Diski Challenge side was intended to help accelerate his match fitness.

His presence was one of the main talking points from the fixture, with the club using the friendly to give him valuable playing time away from the senior team.

Another notable inclusion was 17-year-old Emile Dortley, the younger brother of Rushwin Dortley. The teenager has recently attracted attention while playing in the Gauteng Development League for Kaizer Chiefs’ young Amakhosi side.

Those performances have earned him promotion to the reserve team ahead of the upcoming campaign. His involvement against Lifofane offered another indication of his progress within the club’s development structure.

The result gave Kaizer Chiefs a three-goal return in a fixture against a Lifofane side that ended last season as runners-up in the Lesotho Premier League. Lifofane finished five points behind champions Lijabatho in the 2025/26 campaign.

Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge team, meanwhile, were unable to retain their reserve league title last season. They finished fourth, a relatively low position after previously winning the competition.

The friendly in Maseru therefore combined a competitive test for the DStv Diski Challenge squad with an important fitness opportunity for Shabalala and a chance for emerging players such as Emile Dortley to gain experience at reserve level.

Former Kaizer Chiefs player Moleko’s goal was Lifofane’s only response, as the visitors’ three strikes secured victory at Setsoto Stadium.

The source article listed sections for the Chiefs starting XI and substitutes but did not provide the names of the players in either group.

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