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In-form striker Kilambe believes Amakhosi will have their name engraved on new cup competition

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

It may be a bit too early but Zambian Rotson "Msindisi" Kilambe believes Kaizer Chiefs will be the first ones to have their name engraved on the Telkom Knockout Cup.

Kilambe seems to have become Amakhosi's instant saviour after scoring a brace to see them bundling the stubborn BidVest Wits out of the new tournament.

Chiefs won the match, played at Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday, 2-1 in extra-time after trailing 1-0 for the better part of this closely contested quarterfinal.

"Wits are a good side with some pretty good players. We knew that it was going to be a tough game," said the ecstatic Kilambe.

"It's good that we won the game after raising the hopes of our supporters by clinching the SAA Supa 8 last weekend.

"The most important thing in sport is consistency, we just have to continue winning. The plan is to go all the way to the final and become the inaugural winners.

"It won't be easy but we'll fight," said Kilambe, who also ensured Chiefs won the Supa 8 after scoring a solitary goal against SuperSport United in Durban last week.

"It's all about teamwork, not individuals."

The man better known as the "Big Animal", also colllected R5 000 from the sponsors after he was chosen Man of the Match.

As part of the giant telephone company's social responsibility programme, Kilambe will donate the money to a school of his choice.

Coach Ernst Middendorp was full of praise for his charges, who avenged their 2-1 defeat handed to them by Wits in a drama-filled Castle Premiership last month.

"It was tough, but we had to make substitutions and positional changes midway during the game and the move brought us the required results."

It was also a perfect 48th birthday present for the man nicknamed "Mazinyo.Com".

Boebie Solomons, Wits' coach, was delighted with the performance of his charges despite losing the match in extra-time.

"We played well, we should have scored three more goals. As a former player, I cannot blame the players for the mistake (that led to Kilambe scoring the second goal)."

Wits were the first to draw blood through central defender Ashraf Hendricks in the 37th minute with a superb header.

With many people now thinking Chiefs were heading for an early exit, Kilambe equalised after a pass from Kaizer Motaung Jr in the 83rd minute.

Kilambe was back in the picture in the 100th minute when he capitalised on a defensive error by Nhlanhla Kubeka to score.

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