Chippa United were frustrated at home by newly-promoted Stellenbosch FC during their goalless draw on Saturday afternoon.
New signing Patrick Tignyemb started in Chippa's goal while Diamond Thopola, Kevin and Elvis Moyo also featured against the league's new boys. From the onset, the Chilli Boys knew the task at hand with the second tier champions eager for a strong start in Port Elizabeth.
Stellies adopted a shrewd counter-attacking approach, putting loads of bodies behind the ball with one man near the halfway line.
The first shot on target arrived after 36 minutes, with Thopola testing the resolve of Boy de Jong from a long-range free-kick. Within two minutes, Kurt Lentjies looked for an opening from the edge of the area but the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United man failed to trouble Langeveldt.
Neither side opted for changes during the halftime break, with Chippa continuing their fast start to the opener. The new boys desperately held on for dear life, with new signing Morgan Gould crucial with timeous defensive interventions.
Stellies produced the first change from the bench on 68 minutes, with Waseem Isaacs replacing Afoakwa Dickson while Xolani Mahola filled in for Meshack Maphangule.
Chippa's second substitution followed suit two minutes later, with Thabo Rakhale sacrificed for Silas Maziya.
Combinations between Lentjies and Maziya almost yielded positivity in the final minutes, but the visitors held firm to secure their first point in the top flight.
Teams:
Chippa: Tignyemb, Thopola, Nsabiyumva, K.Moyo, E.Moyo, Komane, Maphangule, Rakhale, Twala, Lentjies, L.Manzini.
Subs: Mothwa, Mthethwa, Mohola, Mbenyane, Damons, Maziya, R. Manzini.
Stellenbosch: De Jong, Van Heerden, Gould, Bergman, Mthethwa, Awono, Zungu, Mares, Solomons, Rayners, Afoakwa.
Subs: Langeveldt, Robertson, Ndlovu, Matsi, Du Preez, Van Rooyen, Isaacs.