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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Chiefs and Royal AM play to a stalemate</li><li>Cavin Johnson continues unbeaten run </li><li>John Maduka left frustrated </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Unconvincing Kaizer Chiefs start 2024 with Royal AM draw as Ashley du Preez misses golden opportunity

Amakhosi and Royal AM were involved in a dull and uninspiring affair on Sunday afternoon as both John Maduka and Cavin Johnson were left frustrated at their players, who showed very little hunger and desire to win and take maximum points. In the end, the result was a 0-0 draw as Amakhosi have now picked up 25 points from 17 games.The biggest chance of the game landed in the feet of Ashley du Preez when he received the ball over the top in the 12th minute where he had all the time to make up his mind on where to dispatch the ball.However, the pacey forward could not get the better of Man of the Match Hugo Nyame as he placed his efforts over the bar.

WHAT HAPPENED

This result keeps Chiefs within close range of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates who also played a draw on Saturday night against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.For Maduka's side, a result like this does not aid them much as the KwaZulu-Natal campaigners are third from the bottom of the log with 19 points on the board as they have now failed to win their last three games.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Although Chiefs did not get all the points, but Johnson has managed to go five games unbeaten as he won two of his last five games, as the veteran mentor continues to stabilize what has been a shaky Amakhosi ship.

THE WINNER 

Both the first and second officials did not have the best day in the office as they made a couple of incorrect offside calls. First was when Ashley du Preez pulled away in the 22nd minute and was coming from an onside position when he received a Reeve Frosler pass, but he was incorrectly flagged offside. Mxolisi Macuphu was also a victim of poor officiating as he managed to time his run when he received a pass but the flag went up to deny his possible scoring opportunity.

THE LOSER

Chiefs' next assignment is their last chance at silverware as they embark on the Nedbank Cup journey, with the hope to wrestle the title from their Soweto rivals, Pirates. Chiefs will take on Milford FC.Meanwhile, Maduka's side are still in search of their first piece of silverware in the top flight but they will face a tougher opponent than Chiefs as Royal AM are paired with KZN rivals AmaZulu in the round of 16.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Unconvincing Kaizer Chiefs start 2024 with Royal AM draw as Ashley du Preez misses golden opportunity | Goal.com

Ashely du Preez was among the players who let Kaizer Chiefs down in a tie against Royal AM on Sunday afternoon.