Kaizer Chiefs captain reveals Fernando Da Cruz’s focus on intensity over possession

Kaizer Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen says new head coach Fernando Da Cruz is demanding more than simply keeping the ball, with speed, effectiveness and intensity central to the Frenchman’s tactical approach.

Petersen was speaking to journalists at the launch of the 2026 MTN8 in Johannesburg this week, shortly after Kaizer Chiefs began their Betway Premiership campaign with a 3-1 win over newcomers Kruger United.

The match was Da Cruz’s first official game in charge of Amakhosi, and Petersen believes the performance showed that the squad is already responding positively to the new coach’s ideas.

“I think, like you could see, Coach Fernando, he wants the ball all the time,” Petersen said.

“But it’s not just wanting the ball, or to just have the ball all the time. Be effective. There’s a certain tempo he wants to play at.

“Nowadays, when teams play against Chiefs, they sit back. They wait for us to make a mistake, and they want to hit us on the counter.”

The experienced goalkeeper said opponents increasingly adopt a cautious approach against Chiefs, defending deep and attempting to exploit any errors when the home side commits players forward.

Da Cruz has therefore placed particular importance on circulating possession at a faster pace, with the aim of moving low-block and mid-block defences out of position.

“I think teams that play like that in the low block and in the mid-block, it’s important to keep the ball moving, to make them run and open up those spaces. So, I think those are things that he emphasises on.

“It’s something that the players are adapting to very well, as you could see in the first league game.

“So, I think for us it’s just to make sure that we sharpen it and make sure that’s something we can carry out throughout the season and make that one of our weapons.”

Petersen’s comments underline the importance Da Cruz has placed on purposeful possession rather than retaining the ball without creating opportunities. The coach wants Chiefs to use the ball to increase the tempo of their attacks, stretch opponents and generate openings against teams that sit deep.

The 3-1 victory over Kruger United provided an encouraging early indication of the team’s progress under Da Cruz, although Petersen stressed that the squad must continue refining the approach as the season develops.

Kaizer Chiefs will next attempt to build on that result when they face Golden Arrows in the MTN8 quarter-final at FNB Stadium on Sunday.

The fixture will give Da Cruz another opportunity to embed his possession-based philosophy and test how effectively Chiefs can apply the principles described by their captain in a competitive cup match.