Chiefs midfielder Maboe reflects on fine form and Orbit win

Kaizer Chiefs midfield linchpin Lebohang Maboe insists he is “just a mere recipient” of individual accolades after walking away with his third consecutive Man of the Match award on Monday afternoon.

The veteran midfielder was once again the heartbeat of the Amakhosi engine room as they overturned a one-goal deficit to defeat Orbit College FC 3-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The victory extends Chiefs’ unbeaten run to three matches and solidifies their grip on third place in the Betway Premiership.

Maboe’s latest gong completes a remarkable hat-trick of individual honours. The former Mamelodi Sundowns star previously picked up the award in the 2-0 win over Magesi FC and the hard-fought 1-0 victory against Durban City FC.

Despite his purple patch, Maboe was quick to redirect the praise toward his teammates during his post-match interview with SuperSport TV.

“You know, I’m just a mere recipient of this award, honestly. It goes to the hard work that we have put in as a team and helping one another,” Maboe said. “We all played in the same direction and [I] just happened to receive the award. But great work by my teammates.”

Maboe Reveals On-Field Rallying Cry in Chiefs’ Victory

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Glamour Boys in the Friendly City. The North West-based Orbit College caught the Soweto giants sleeping in the 22nd minute, with Mbulelo Wagaba heading home the opener.

Maboe admitted that the team took time to find their rhythm but praised the mental fortitude shown to stay in the contest.

“I’m very excited about the performance. Well, we didn’t start the game well, especially in the first 20 minutes. But we kept on fighting and never gave up,” he added. “It was a matter of saying, ‘Hey, gents, let’s wake up. Let’s get that first goal.’”

Exploiting the Fatigue

The wake-up call arrived via Wandile Duba in the 42nd minute, and Chiefs never looked back. The second half was a one-sided affair as Mduduzi Shabalala and Siphesihle Ndlovu’s clinical finishes put the result beyond doubt.

Maboe noted that their tactical persistence eventually wore down the spirited Orbit side.

“We noticed that they were getting a little bit tired in the second half and kept wanting more, and we managed to produce great teamwork out there,” the midfielder concluded.

With Maboe pulling the strings, Chiefs look a transformed side as they aim to finish a difficult season on a high by securing CAF Confederation Cup football for the next campaign.