Chippa United returned to winning form in the Betway Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Siwelele FC at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday evening.
Sinoxolo Kwayiba scored the only goal of the contest as the Chilli Boys snapped a five-game winless run in the Premiership and opened a five-point gap between themselves (13th) and the relegation playoff zone, currently occupied by Orbit College (15th).
As for Siwelele, this result ends their unbeaten league run of eight matches and leaves them in 10th place on the log – two points short of the top half.
FULL TIME 💚🤍
— Siwelele Football Club (@Siwelele_FC) April 7, 2026
A hard-fought battle ends in a narrow 1-0 defeat.#SiweleleFC #HelaYalo #MatchDay pic.twitter.com/a6yyuKqRfT
Siwelele made a bright start and created some promising scenarios through their use of the high press in the early minutes, with Grant Margeman drawing a notable intervention from goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi after breaking free down the right of the penalty area.
Siwelele established a dominance of possession and almost claimed the lead just past the half-hour mark when Relebogile Mokhuoane glanced a header on target from a corner kick, but Msibi came up with another fine save to keep the score at 0-0.
The Bloemfontein team had further chances via Vincent Pule and Tebogo Potsane, but they failed to capitalise and the first half closed with the scoreline blank.
Both sides opted for changes at the start of the second half, with Chippa sending on Malebogo Modise and Azola Matrose, while Siwelele introduced Siphelele Luthuli.
Siwelele continued to be the more proactive team, but the Chilli Boys claimed the lead against the run of play in the 57th minute, with a ball falling kindly for Sinoxolo Kwayiba after a left-flank cross, and the forward directed a shot beyond the reach of Ricardo Goss to make it 1-0.
In the wake of opening the scoring, the hosts played with much more confidence and assurance, creating several more half-chances – though they were unable to add to their advantage.
On 80 minutes Siwelele should have drawn level via Chibuike Ohizu, who was picked out at the near post by Neo Rapoo’s left-flank cross, but the striker failed to direct an effort on target.
Six minutes later the visitors blew another chance to restore parity, as Vincent Pule burst into the danger area and got around Msibi, but was unable to direct a shot on target from a tight angle.
The teams will be back in Premiership action on Saturday 11 April, with Chippa hosting Polokwane City and Siwelele at home to AmaZulu FC.
Chippa United (0) 1 (Kwayiba 57’)
Siwelele FC 0
Chippa: Msibi, Madingwane, Majadibodu, Mobara, Sam (Modise 46’), Mosele, Konqobe (Matrose 46’), Kammies, Seabi (Tshobeni 60’), Kwayiba (Eva Nga 89’), Figuareido (Mauchi 83’)
Siwelele: Goss, Mfolozi, Sanoka, Ndebele, Rapoo, Margeman, Mokhuoane (Luthuli 46’), Potsane (Sekgota 74’), Pule, Lungu, Ohizu (Lepasa 81’)