Bidvest Wits won the South African Premier League title after shoving aside Polokwane City 2-0 to lift its first silverware in six years. English-born James Keene, rifled in the opening goal –his 2nd of the season – before Daine Klate plundered in the final goal with a brilliant effort.
The result effectively rendered Bidvest title winners with a game to spare after rivals and deposed champions Mamelodi Sundowns, were tied 2-2 by seventh-placed Maritzburg United.
The win puts gaffer Gavin Hunt a title shy of becoming the first coach to win the South African domestic gong five times. At the moment, he is on par with the likes of Ted Dumitru, Jeff Butler, and Gordon Igsund.
In other games, Platinum Stars beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Watched by 5,700 supporters, 37-year-old Solomon Mathe raced The Crocodiles into an early lead as Enocent Mkhabela scored the second a minute from break.
Elsewhere, Cape Town City managed a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows after Musa Bilankulu inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the final minutes.
Chippa United trounced SuperSport United with striker Rhulani Manzini producing a hat-trick, enough to do damage at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth. Manzini scored from the spot-kick in the 71st minute for the opener before nicking in a second five minutes from regular with a third in the additional minutes.
It was a specter of goalless draws for the remaining fixtures; Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town, Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars, and bottom-placed Baroka versus Highlands Park. The three aforesaid teams are in a relegation dogfight. Who stays or makes the drop, will be decided on Saturday.
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