How Kaizer Chiefs compare after eight matches under Fernando Da Cruz

Kaizer Chiefs have collected 14 points from their opening eight Betway Premiership matches under Fernando Da Cruz, leaving them needing a significant improvement to challenge for the title.

The Glamour Boys are fourth in the table after extending their winless run to three league games with a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch on Tuesday. Sinoxolo Kwayiba put Stellenbosch ahead before Mduduzi Shabalala equalised for Chiefs.

The result leaves Chiefs eight points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates and nine adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one match more.

At the same stage last season, when Nasreddine Nabi was in charge, Chiefs had taken 11 points from eight matches. They won three, drew two and lost three of their opening league fixtures before finishing the campaign in ninth place.

Nabi remained in the job for the start of the 2025/26 season only after guiding the club to Nedbank Cup success, which ended a 10-year wait for a trophy.

Chiefs collected 15 points from their first eight league games in that season, although Nabi was not in charge for all of those fixtures.

Co-coaches made strong start

Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze temporarily led the team while Nabi was away because of his wife’s ill health. The coaching pair oversaw three matches at the beginning of that spell, winning all three, before Nabi returned.

Across the first eight fixtures, Ben Youssef and Kaze were in charge for five games, recording three wins and two draws.

Nabi then managed three matches after his return, winning one, drawing one and losing one, before Chiefs ended their association with the experienced coach.

Ben Youssef and Kaze took charge for the rest of the campaign and led Chiefs to third place, with the club finishing on 54 points. They ended 15 points behind champions Orlando Pirates.

Da Cruz’s side have therefore started this campaign with one fewer point than the team managed at the same stage last season, and three more than the corresponding position in Nabi’s first season.

With a quarter of the season now completed, Chiefs will need a substantial improvement in results to move back into the title race.