Fernando Da Cruz blames costly mistakes as Kaizer Chiefs draw at Richards Bay

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says his team’s defensive errors cost them victory after they surrendered two points in a 2-2 draw at Richards Bay.

Amakhosi twice came from behind to claim a share of the points, earning their first result at Richards Bay after three consecutive defeats at the venue. However, Da Cruz was left frustrated by the manner in which the home side scored, saying both goals came as a result of mistakes by his players.

“We lost two points today,” he told SuperSport TV.

The Chiefs manager felt his side had been the better team for much of the match and believed the result did not reflect the balance of play.

“We played a very good game, we were better than the opponents.

“We drew not because the opponent was better but because we made too many mistakes.”

The draw leaves Kaizer Chiefs unbeaten after four matches in the league. They are third on the log with eight points, two behind joint leaders Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Chiefs twice had to recover from falling behind, but Da Cruz’s main concern was the avoidable nature of Richards Bay’s goals. Despite the disappointment, he found encouragement in the impact made by his substitutes after the interval.

Faiz Abrahams and Asanele Velebayi both impressed after being introduced, with Velebayi playing a key role in the second equaliser by setting up Siphesihle Ndlovu.

Da Cruz said the contribution of the replacements was another positive for a squad that he believes must continue to rely on its collective strength rather than only its starting XI.

“Since the beginning our substitutes have made good jobs when coming on,” he added.

“We need to keep this mindset because we don’t only need 11 players but the whole squad.”

The result extended Chiefs’ unbeaten start, although the dropped points prevented them from closing the gap on Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table.

Da Cruz’s side will have time to prepare for their next fixture, with Kaizer Chiefs returning to action on 5 September. They will host Siwelele FC as they look to turn their positive start into a stronger position in the league standings.

For now, the draw at Richards Bay has left the Chiefs manager focusing on defensive discipline. His team showed character to come from behind twice, but Da Cruz believes the performance deserved more than one point after the side’s costly lapses gave their opponents a way back into the contest.