It has been exactly six years since Manuel Kambala scored the header that broke the hearts of Kaizer Chiefs supporters and handed Mamelodi Sundowns the 2019/20 league title.

Needing a victory against Baroka FC in the final match of the season, Amakhosi were held to a 1-1 draw, surrendering the title to Sundowns by just two points.

Chiefs had appeared to be cruising towards the championship after building a commanding 13-point lead earlier in the season. However, a dramatic collapse in the final stages allowed Sundowns to claw their way back into contention.

Then came that fateful moment which broke the hearts of millions of Amakhosi fans.

Kambala rose highest to head Baroka level, denying Chiefs the victory they desperately needed and effectively ending their title hopes.

Six years later, the Mozambican midfielder remains a cult hero among Sundowns and Orlando Pirates supporters.

Kambala broke the hearts of Chiefs supporters that day

On Saturday, supporters once again celebrated Kambala and the famous header that changed the title race forever. His popularity among rival supporters has even earned him the unforgettable nickname: Lord Kambala.

In an interview with KickOff in 2023, Kambala admitted that he appreciated the attention, although he sometimes wished people would remember him for more than that one moment.

“The supporters. They gave me ‘Lord Kambala’ because of what happened in that game against Kaizer Chiefs in 2020.

“I don’t know if it’s Chiefs supporters, Sundowns supporters or even Pirates supporters.”

Kambala also revealed that his popularity exploded after the goal.

“Since that day I’ve been receiving more friend requests and gaining more followers on social media. But I can’t tell if these are my fans or football supporters.”

Asked whether he enjoyed the nickname and the attention that came with it, Kambala gave a rather honest response.

“Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I meet a lot of people who remind me of that goal. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not.

“There are those who remind me because of what I do in the field of play, and not because I scored against Kaizer Chiefs,” Kambala added.

For Kambala, however, there was nothing extraordinary about what he did that day. He was simply doing his job.

“Those who understand football understand that I was doing my job. It was either them or us. Baroka was fighting for survival that day. Otherwise, they would have been relegated.

“Maybe Kaizer Chiefs as a big team they should have done better than they did that day. They had quality players.”

Despite his attempts to move beyond the moment, the legacy of that header continues to follow him.

“Everyone here calls me Lord Kambala,” said the Kaizer Chiefs slayer.

Was this the darkest moment in Chiefs’ history?