Da Cruz challenges Kaizer Chiefs to match Kruger United performance all season

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says his team must reproduce the performance that secured a 3-1 victory over Kruger United throughout the Betway Premiership season.

Amakhosi made an impressive start to their league campaign by overcoming the newly promoted side, with the result giving Da Cruz an early indication of the level he expects from his players.

Flavio Da Silva opened the scoring for Kaizer Chiefs before Wandile Duba added a second-half brace. Khethukuthula Ndlovu scored Kruger United’s only goal of the match.

The result reflected a controlled display from Da Cruz’s side, particularly in the way they managed possession and dictated the tempo for long periods. After the final whistle, the French coach was asked whether that control and efficiency represented the standard he wanted to see from Chiefs each time they played.

Da Cruz made clear that the performance in the opening match was not intended to be an isolated example. He said his players had shown the level required in every fixture, although he also identified the management of match rhythm as an area that still needed attention.

“What they showed today is what you expect from every game,” said Da Cruz on SuperSport.

“But sometimes we need to manage the tempo, slow and fast, slow and fast.

“It depends on the tempo of the game. But we will learn step by step and we will increase.”

The coach said he was pleased with what Kaizer Chiefs produced against Kruger United, but acknowledged that the team could become more effective by varying the pace of matches more intelligently.

His comments suggest that the victory was viewed not simply as a positive opening result, but also as a reference point for the standards he wants to establish at the club. Chiefs’ ability to retain control, use possession efficiently and respond to changes in the flow of a match will be central to meeting those expectations.

Da Cruz also indicated that improving those details would be a gradual process. Rather than expecting the team to reach its full level immediately, he said the players would continue learning and develop their ability to increase or reduce the tempo according to the circumstances of each game.

For now, the focus is on building from a convincing first result. Kaizer Chiefs have begun their Betway Premiership campaign with three goals and a win, while Da Cruz has challenged the squad to ensure the quality displayed against Kruger United becomes a consistent feature of their season.