Da Cruz backs Kaizer Chiefs to recover after MTN8 defeat

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz says he is confident his side will respond positively after their 1-0 defeat by Golden Arrows ended their MTN8 campaign at the first hurdle.

Khulekani Shezi scored the only goal of the match in the second half at FNB Stadium on Saturday, sending Golden Arrows into the next round and leaving Amakhosi to reflect on an early disappointment in the season’s first domestic cup competition.

The result was a setback for Da Cruz, who had begun his reign as Kaizer Chiefs manager with a promising 3-1 victory over Kruger United in the opening match of the Betway Premiership at Mbombela Stadium last week.

Despite the defeat, Da Cruz said he was not concerned about the direction of his team and believes there is enough time to correct the problems exposed by the loss.

“Today is really disappointing because we wanted to win and progress to the next round, but there are other competitions and we need to work hard and improve on our weaknesses,” Da Cruz told the media after the match.

“At the beginning of the match we were late in everything, but we got better.

“If we compare this game to the others, our beginning was a bit far from the levels we showed in previous fixtures.

“But I’m not afraid. We will keep working and looking forward to the future.”

Da Cruz was particularly frustrated by Kaizer Chiefs’ failure to convert their opportunities. The home side created a number of chances, with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo among those unable to find the net, and the coach said finishing would be an area of focus in training.

“If you look at the statistics, we had 20 shots on target, the team wanted to score, we created a lot of chances, but we didn’t score,” he said.

He added that the team’s underlying structure was encouraging, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive mentality as the players adapt to his methods.

“We’re happy with our base or foundation and we want the fans to be proud of this team in the next few weeks.

“We are working to find a good balance, and the most important is the mindset of the team. We are happy about that; the players are coming back step by step and we are not worried.”

There was also a first appearance for Langelihle Phiri, who came on as a substitute. Da Cruz was pleased with the young forward’s contribution but said he needed more conditioning before he could be considered fully ready for competitive football.

“I’m happy with Phili’s performance, but he is not at 100% ready at the moment. We are taking things step by step and need to be careful.”

Kaizer Chiefs now turn their attention back to the Betway Premiership. They host Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium on Wednesday, when Da Cruz’s side will have the opportunity to return to winning ways after their MTN8 exit.