Cavin Johnson's first game in charge as Kaizer Chiefs interim coach started with a 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon.
Newly-appointed Chiefs Coach Cavin Johnson restored goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, Thatayaone Dilthokwe, Edson Castillo, Mduduzi Shabalala and Christian Saile before giving Keagan Dolly the captain's armband.
Abafana Besthende were desperate to hit the ground running as Nduduzo Sibiya sold veteran fullback Sifiso Hlanti out wide and cut in only to go wide of the near post.
Goalkeeper Petersen didn't cover himself in glory on 20 minutes where he mis-controlled a back-pass to allow Knox Mutizwa an easy finish and handed Arrows the lead.
Chiefs did go level minutes after going behind when Hlanti arrived unchallenged at the far post of the area to head in Castillo's floated delivery from a free-kick.
Johnson's men could've taken the lead at halftime from a cagey goalkeeping by Ismail Watenga from Reeve Frosler's shot, but Saile wasn't able to bury the rebound.
The first substitution of the match came ahead of the resumption when Arrows introduced former Chiefs striker Ryan Moon in the place of Tebogo Tlolane.
Chiefs continued to look enterprising with their short passing game seven minutes in the second half, but were behind again as Mutizwa bagged a brace with a well-taken toe-poke finish.
Abafana Besthende very nearly got a third where Sibiya's cross-field ball entered the area and had Themba Mantshiyane's glancing header draw a tremendous save from Petersen.
The Amakhosi aimed to go level towards the last 15 minutes with a rasping strike from a tight position by Saile, but alert bit of defending from the host kept him at bay.
Chiefs didn't stop looking for the equaliser ahead of full-time through Castillo, Sibongiseni Mthethwa and substitute George Matlou but were left frustrated as Johnson's tenure got off to a losing start, whilst Arrows regained second spot from SuperSport United.
Confirmed line-ups:
Golden Arrows: Watenga, Shitolo, Ndwandwe, Dube, Mantshiyane, Cross, van Rooi, Mutizwa, Theron, Sibiya, Tlolane
Subs: Gumede, Zwane, Moon, Mhlongo, Mthanti, Nxadi, Nguse, Motloung, Ncube
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Hlanti, Ditlhokwe, Ngcobo, Frosler, Maart, Castillo, Mthethwa, Shabalala, Dolly, Saile
Subs: Khune, Msimango, Kwinika, Solomons, Zwane, Matlou, Potsane, Ngcobo, Gonzalez
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