Sheppard says missed chances cost Kaizer Chiefs against Golden Arrows

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard believes poor finishing was the main reason his side had to settle for a goalless draw against Lamontville Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

Amakhosi created enough opportunities to win the match but failed to find the decisive goal in a frustrating Betway Premiership encounter. The clearest opening came shortly before half-time, when midfielder Lebohang Maboe’s penalty was saved by Lamontville Golden Arrows goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa.

Both sides continued to threaten after the interval, but neither could break the deadlock. Sheppard felt the overall balance of chances meant Kaizer Chiefs should have taken all three points, despite acknowledging that Lamontville Golden Arrows also came close late on.

“It was a fair result. They had a couple of chances, especially near the end, but overall, I think we deserved to win it if you look at the balance of the chances,” Sheppard told the Kaizer Chiefs Official Website.

The assistant coach said the team’s ability to create opportunities was encouraging, but urged the players to become more clinical in front of goal.

“Our creativity has been good; it’s just a matter of sticking our chances away,” he said. “The good thing is that we are creating chances. That’s a positive, so we just have to carry on with that.”

The draw leaves Kaizer Chiefs fourth in the Betway Premiership standings with 12 points from their opening league fixtures. The Soweto club’s unbeaten start now comprises three wins and three draws.

However, the dropped points prevented Amakhosi from strengthening their position in the top three and increasing the pressure on the early pace-setters. Instead, their failure to convert their chances leaves them open to being overtaken by teams behind them in the table.

Kaizer Chiefs have shown attacking creativity during the opening stages of the season, but their performances have lacked consistency. The stalemate against Lamontville Golden Arrows again highlighted the gap between creating chances and making them count.

Their next assignment is a demanding home fixture against Stellenbosch FC, scheduled for 17 October 2026.