Sekhukhune United boss Cedric Kaze calls for reinforcements before Orlando Pirates tests

Sekhukhune United head coach Cedric Kaze says the club must add more quality and depth to its squad if it is to meet expectations and compete successfully on all fronts this season.

Kaze has made a promising start to his time in charge of Babina Noko, guiding them to two wins and one defeat in the league. The club have also progressed beyond AmaZulu in the MTN8, earning a place in the semi-finals against Orlando Pirates.

The two sides will meet three times over the next week, with the MTN8 semi-final being played over two legs. The demanding schedule will provide an early test for Kaze, who succeeded Eric Tinkler at a club that has finished in the top five for each of the past four seasons.

That record means expectations remain high, and Kaze acknowledges that Sekhukhune United must continue challenging near the top of the domestic game.

“It’s a team that has consistently finished in the top five for the last couple of years and the least we can do is finish in those places, it’s true that we are into the semi-final of the MTN8, we have a huge task ahead of us, we want to do everything we can to get into the next stage,” Kaze said.

Sekhukhune United will face Orlando Pirates three times in the coming week, placing significant demands on a squad that has undergone considerable change during the off-season. The club recorded 17 official departures, including the retirement of captain Linda Mntambo.

Experienced players such as Thabang Monare, Bradley Grobler and Shaune Mogaila also left after featuring regularly for the team. In response, Sekhukhune United brought in 14 new players.

However, Kaze believes further recruitment is required, particularly to ensure that his substitutes can maintain the team’s level when matches come in quick succession.

“We will prepare well and do everything we can to get through [beyond Orlando Pirates].”

The coach says the scale of the squad changes has made it difficult to assemble sufficient cover in every position. He wants the club to continue working on strengthening the defence, midfield and attack.

“We will keep working on many positions, because I believe when you lose four or five starters, it’s not easy and you need to replace those players with quality as well and you need depth on the bench because there’s alot of games coming,” Kaze explained.

Sekhukhune United have already experienced the pressures of a congested timetable, playing three games in six days. After the Orlando Pirates fixtures, they face another run of three matches in seven days.

Kaze says those demands make squad depth essential if the club are to sustain their early momentum and remain competitive in both the league and the MTN8.

“We had three games in six days, after next week, three in seven days, we need to strengthen positions and every line, defence, midfield, attacking, we need to strengthening to get quality and depth too.”