A rivalry that spans that better part of two decade’s will be renewed Wednesday evening when Chiefs reacquaint themselves with an old foe, who they have had some interesting battles with in the past. It was a rivalry that was missing last season as Bidvest Wits University were campaigning in the Mvela Golden League, after they were relegated from the PSL at the end of the 2004 – 2005 season. The students as Wits are amicably known last played against Chiefs towards the end of the Amakhosi’s title winning season in 2004 – 2005, in a game that was held those at the stadium and those watching on television captive until the ninetieth minute.

Wits were in need of the points going into that game April 2004 in order to avoid relegation, things went horribly wrong for them right at the death as one of their star players goalkeeper Wayne Roberts seemed to lose the plot for a moment. Roberts threw Chiefs a late lifeline when he Rugby tackled Collins Mbesuma in the dying moments of the game, to hand Chiefs a penalty, which Mbesuma duly converted and won the three, points for the Amakhosi. That victory which Chiefs registered against Wits in 2004 – 2005, sparked what was the beginning of a five game unbeaten streak for Chiefs. Which culminated in The Amakhosi winning, their second PSL Crown hot on the heals of their first title a season before that in 2003- 2004.

Although The Amakhosi have not really found the going tough against their Johannesburg rivals, matches between the two teams have been tightly contested affairs. In the eighteen times that the two teams have met in the PSL no team has managed to find the back of the net more than twice in a game, with Chiefs scoring twice against Wits on four occasions, while the students have managed to score two goals against Chiefs on a solitary occasion back in 2002 – 2003.

On Wednesday evening at home Chiefs should fancy themselves against a Wits team who have not really being in great form, The Amakhosi who were on fire in their first home game against Cosmos have the perfect opportunity of registering their first victory of the new campaign against them. Wits form in their opening games of the season has been wayward as they drew three games and lost to defending PSL Champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the weekend.

At the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening Chiefs will be playing on an immaculate surface one that resembles a Persian rug and not a grazing pasture for cattle, as Ernst Middendorp has described some of the pitches that Chiefs have played on thus far. This will allow them to play their normal fast paced game and should comfortably register a win against a Wits team still trying to find their feet back in the PSL.

Results Chiefs Vs Wits since 1996 – 1997

1996 – 1997

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Wits University 1

1997 – 1998

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2

Kaizer Chiefs 1 Wits University 1

1998 – 1999

Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Zwane. M. 75’) Wits University 1

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nomvete 70’, Radebe 76’)

1999 – 2000

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Wits University 0

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Mbuthu 84’)

2000 – 2001

Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Nomvete 83’) Wits University 0

Wits University 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Sithole 25’, Mooki 65’)

2001 – 2002

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Macamo 25’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Wits University 0

2002 – 2003

Wits University 1 Kaizer Chiefs 0

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Wits University 2

2003 – 2004

Wits University 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0

Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Motaung Jnr 5’) Wits University 1

2004 – 2005

Wits University 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nengomasha 70’, Radebe 76’)

Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Mbesuma pen 90 min) Wits University 0

Head to Head

P W L D GF GA GD

Kaizer Chiefs 18 8 4 6 14 9 5

Wits University 18 4 8 6 9 14 -5