Kaizer Chiefs face painful reminder of 2020 title collapse against Siwelele FC

Kaizer Chiefs’ next fixture will revive memories of one of the most painful disappointments in the club’s recent history, when a promising title campaign unravelled in the final 30 minutes of the 2019-20 season.

The Soweto club will face Siwelele FC under the floodlights on 5 September 2026 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, although the match is scheduled to be moved to Moses Mabhida Stadium. Only Reeve Frosler and Bruce Bvuma remain from the Kaizer Chiefs squad that suffered the heartbreak six years ago.

Kaizer Chiefs’ wait for another league title has now extended beyond a decade. Their strongest opportunity to end that drought since their most recent triumph came in the 2019-20 campaign, when they appeared to be in control for much of the season.

League football was suspended in mid-March 2020 after the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus. At that point, the Gold and Black were top of the standings with 44 points from 22 matches, four points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mamelodi Sundowns, however, had played one game fewer.

When the season resumed in a bio-bubble involving all 16 teams, designed to protect players and staff during the health crisis, Kaizer Chiefs initially strengthened their position. Mamelodi Sundowns and the other chasing sides dropped points, allowing the leaders to retain their advantage.

By the final round of fixtures, though, Mamelodi Sundowns had moved close enough to retain the title. The Brazilians were level with Kaizer Chiefs on 56 points but had an inferior goal difference, meaning they needed to win and hope their rivals from Naturena failed to do so.

For Kaizer Chiefs, the equation was simple: victory would secure the league title. The situation carried echoes of May 2015, when the club had also seen a seemingly strong position disappear at the decisive stage.

Both teams faced their defining matches on 5 September 2020. Kaizer Chiefs took the lead against Baroka FC at Bidvest Stadium when Khama Billiat scored after 39 minutes.

Their advantage lasted only 20 minutes. Manuel Kambala equalised for Baroka FC, leaving Kaizer Chiefs unable to find the goal they needed.

The reaction of the Kaizer Chiefs players reflected the pressure of the moment. Their body language suggested growing hopelessness, with the team unable to respond during the most important passage of its season.

The match ended 1-1, a result that opened the door for Mamelodi Sundowns. At Dobsonville Stadium, they defeated Black Leopards 3-0, with Lebohang Maboe scoring a hat-trick.

That result transformed the mood at the ground into one of celebration, while Kaizer Chiefs were left to reflect on a title that had appeared to be within their grasp.

The forthcoming meeting with Siwelele FC therefore carries more than the significance of another fixture. It will be played on the same date as the collapse that allowed Mamelodi Sundowns to overtake Kaizer Chiefs, providing a painful reminder of how close the Soweto giants came to ending their league title drought in 2020.

The fixture also comes amid wider South African football headlines, including McKenzie’s concerns about a FIFA ban “I’m not a stupid minister” and the disciplinary tightrope surrounding Sirino’s landmark achievement.