Kaizer Chiefs defender Kwinika backs Da Cruz’s focus on football’s finer details

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz has earned support from within the dressing room despite a language barrier and an inconsistent start to his tenure, with senior defender Zitha Kwinika praising the Portuguese coach’s focus on the fundamentals of the game.

Da Cruz has entered his third month in charge at Chiefs having won two of the five matches he has overseen. While the full impact of his work behind the scenes is expected to become clearer as the season progresses, Kwinika believes the coach’s football ideas are already reaching the players.

Da Cruz has limited English and regularly relies on technical team member Julien Le Heran to translate his instructions. However, Kwinika said communication had not become a significant problem because the principles of football could be understood beyond spoken language.

“The football language is universal and so he has been emphasizing on doing the small things correctly and that is contributing a lot,” Kwinika said.

The defender explained that Da Cruz’s approach was not centred on complicated tactical concepts, but on ensuring that players consistently execute basic details correctly.

“He is not into big things but doing the basics properly, the small football details, your body position, the space you are in… he makes you understand that. And that is why maybe now it feels a little bit disappointing that we are not doing those things properly that he always emphasizes which contributes in certain results of the game.”

Kwinika, a respected senior figure in the Chiefs squad, described Da Cruz as a coach who also acts as a teacher. He encouraged the club’s younger players to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the experienced tactician as the team works through the early stages of the coach’s tenure.

“He is a teacher. I think he is a good coach and what is important for the young ones to grasp as much as they can and they will get something. The process is clear and it is just about fixing the small finer football details that will determine a whole lot of results in the coming games,” Kwinika added.

The defender was speaking ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Siwelele, a match he believes could help Chiefs maintain momentum and strengthen their confidence.

Kwinika said the team’s priority was to turn Da Cruz’s repeated instructions into consistent performances, rather than focus on more elaborate ideas.

“So, I think the emphasis is one and simple, which is just to do the small things correctly and then that can determine a whole lot of things and results at the end of the day.”

He also stressed that Chiefs must build on what he described as a promising run by making sure their performances remain consistent.

“This game is important for us going forward because we know what is at stake. I think in us saying we are having a good run it is just to keep the consistency.”

Victory against Siwelele, Kwinika added, would provide Chiefs with greater belief and allow them to continue developing under Da Cruz.

“Winning the game will give us that confidence going forward and we will continue from where we are and we want to go to,” Kwinika concluded.

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