Da Cruz dismisses reported Leaner-Frosler clash as ‘no issue’

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has played down a reported confrontation between goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner and midfielder Reeve Frosler after their CAF Confederation Cup second round preliminary first-leg match against Red Arrows.

A video circulating on social media appeared to show the two players arguing following Chiefs’ match in Ndola last weekend. Frosler seemed to point at Leaner, while Bruce Bvuma and others moved between the pair.

The footage prompted speculation about tensions within the Chiefs dressing room, but Da Cruz said there was no disagreement that needed to be addressed before Thursday’s second leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“There was no issue because we didn’t need to resolve something,” Da Cruz told the media.

Leaner started in goal for the match because Brendan Petersen was still recovering from injury, while Frosler was selected in central midfield as Chiefs conceded once against Red Arrows.

Da Cruz said the incident was simply a result of the emotions that can follow a competitive fixture.

“We just make a sport with emotions and sometimes after games, the emotions are very high,” he said.

“And it’s between two players who share what they think there was no problem.”

The Chiefs manager added that he had not spoken to either player about the matter because he did not believe there was anything to resolve.

“I didn’t need to speak to the players because there was no issue and that’s all.”