Chiefs will now be officially crowned Absa Premiership champions on 9 May.
Bobby Malabie, Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Relations: Barclays Africa, complimented Chiefs on their emphatic triumph.
He also alluded to their record-breaking 19-match unbeaten run earlier in the season and the fact that they still have a chance of amassing the most number of league points – 72 – in an Absa Premiership season.
“To win so convincingly means that the team has obviously performed brilliantly on many fronts, on and off the field. Throughout the season, they displayed unrelenting passion, commitment and hunger. Chiefs’ success is also attributable to their consistency, focus and excellent execution of their game plan,” said Malabie.
He added that every member of the Chiefs’ playing squad and management team deserved praise. “Exceptional teamwork and solid leadership throughout the season as well as the agility to bounce back from their two defeats to date were also hallmarks of their success.”
Malabie emphasised that sport, especially football, has become a major platform for Absa to help people – particularly, customers, fans and players – achieve their ambitions in the right way.
“As sponsors of the Absa Premiership, it is extremely rewarding to be able to leverage our involvement in South African football and actively engage with the communities in which we conduct our business.”
For example, Absa’s Rekaofela Fan Bus has travelled to all nine provinces during the Absa Premiership season, providing customers with an exclusive opportunity to actively engage with the Absa brand, their favourite clubs and footballing legends such as Lucas Radebe.
Absa Premiership Rekaofela ambassador and former Chiefs and Leeds United legend, Radebe, also commended Chiefs on winning their second league title in three years.
“It is truly fitting that Chiefs will be crowned as Absa Premiership champions. They were remarkably consistent and efficient throughout the season. I’m truly impressed with the way Chiefs has gone about every game they’ve played – they are deserving champions.”