Kaizer Chiefs fans finally had something to cheer about on Saturday as their beloved team got back to winning ways. Chiefs lifted the Nedbank Cup after edging out their biggest rivals Orlando Pirates with a 2-1 victory in a pulsating final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. The win ended a painful 10-year wait for silverware and secured Chiefs a place in next season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup as one of South Africa’s two representatives.

The action started early. In just the 10th minute, Pirates conceded a penalty, and Chiefs’ Uruguayan playmaker Gaston Sirino calmly slotted it home to give the Glamour Boys an early advantage. But Pirates weren’t going down without a fight. Just ten minutes later, Evidence Makgopa headed in the equaliser after connecting beautifully with a Deon Hotto free-kick.

With the game hanging in the balance and fans on the edge of their seats, Chiefs’ captain, Yusuf Maart, stepped up in the 80th minute. Maart drove in a stunning volley from outside the box to seal the win and send Amakhosi fans into absolute ecstasy.

For many pundits, this victory was long overdue. The last time Chiefs tasted major success was back in 2015, when they claimed the ABSA Premiership title (now the Betway Premiership) under coach Stuart Baxter. That season, they were untouchable, wrapping up the title early and boasting the league’s best defence.

Since then, the road has been tough. Chiefs reached a few finals, including the 2021 CAF Champions League final against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, but silverware remained elusive—until now.

This latest triumph takes Kaizer Chiefs’ tally of major official trophies to an impressive 55, cementing their place as one of South Africa’s most successful football football clubs.