Kaizer Chiefs face must-win Red Arrows clash as pressure grows on Da Cruz

Pressure is increasing on Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz after his side suffered another disappointing result, this time on their return to continental competition.

Amakhosi were beaten 1-0 by Zambian side Red Arrows in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday.

The result leaves Chiefs needing to overturn the deficit in Friday’s return match at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the Confederation Cup group stage alive.

The defeat has added to a difficult spell for Da Cruz, whose team have struggled to turn promising positions into victories in the Betway Premiership.

Chiefs remain unbeaten in the league, but they have drawn five of their first eight matches. The number of dropped points has increased scrutiny of their performances, particularly in games where they would have been expected to challenge for all three points.

Their most recent league match also ended level, with Stellenbosch FC holding them to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium last Tuesday.

Although the unbeaten record provides some encouragement, Chiefs’ lack of consistency has become an increasing concern as the domestic campaign has progressed. Their latest setback has now placed additional importance on the second leg against Red Arrows.

Da Cruz admitted his team fell short in the first meeting. The French coach said Chiefs lacked aggression during the opening half and were unable to create enough chances after the interval.

The return fixture will therefore provide a significant test of the squad’s response, with Chiefs required to score at least once to draw level on aggregate and avoid an early exit from the competition.

Da Cruz had been tasked with guiding the club to a strong showing after their return to continental football. Instead, the narrow loss in Zambia has increased the pressure surrounding both the team’s results and their performances.

The match in Durban gives Chiefs the chance to address those concerns, but another failure to produce a positive result would leave their continental campaign in serious danger.

With domestic draws continuing to accumulate and progress in the CAF Confederation Cup now uncertain, Da Cruz faces a growing demand for a convincing response from his side.