Polokwane City and Magesi FC played to a goalless draw in their Betway Premiership opener on Saturday afternoon.
City gave debuts to Mpho Mvundlela and Sabelo Motsa following the loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8, while Dikwena Tsa Meetse were without Elvis Chipezeze and started Mbali Tshabalala in goal.
Tshabalala was called to action minutes after the start as he was needed to produce fine a save following a snap shot from the area by Levy Mashiane.
City provided more efforts a little later where another rasping shot from the six-yard area this time by Sibusiso Tshabalala worked Mbali yet again.
Magesi, now in their second top flight campaign, continued on the back-foot as a header from Mashiane missed target following a dead-ball situation.
The pressure slightly shifted in the final minutes to halftime and saw a probing attempt by Mcedisi Vandala from a delivery by Delano Abrahams drew Brian Bwire to a save.
Vandala switched roles moments apart and teed-up former Kaizer Chiefs winger Edmore Chirambadare to a strike from range, but it went over the top.
Rise and Shine made a double substitution at the break, with Tshabalala removed for Keagile Malepe before Thato Letshedi came on for Ndamulelo Maphangule.
The host came inches to the opener minutes in when Bonginkosi Dlamini’s penetrative shot from the left of the area rattled the upright.
At the same time, substitute Malepe squandered a guilt-edge opening when he nodded wide high and wide of the target from a cross by Mashiane.
Dikwena regained momentum as the minutes flew on and almost grabbed the winner with a snap effort from a tight angle by Abrahams but he fluffed his lines as the two Limpopo sides settled for a share of the spoils on the opening day.
Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
Confirmed line-ups:
Polokwane City: Bwire, Manthosi, Mvundela, Motsa, Nkaki, Tshabalala, Maphangule, Ramabu, Batlhabane, Mashiane, Dlamini.
Magesi: Tshabalala, Mokone, Buthelezi, Makgoga, Abrahams, Mtshali, Masegela, Chirambadare, Mariba, Vandala, Mosadi