Kaizer Chiefs coach Da Cruz shifts focus to domestic competitions after Africa heartbreak

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has urged his players to turn their attention to domestic competitions following their heartbreaking elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Soweto giants saw their continental campaign come to an end on Friday after suffering a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat to Zambia’s Red Arrows, despite winning the second leg 1-0 through Bradley Cross.

Chiefs had lost the first leg by the same scoreline, leaving the tie level on aggregate before the contest was decided from the penalty spot.

The elimination was a major disappointment for the South African side, who had hoped to secure a place in the Confederation Cup group stage. However, Da Cruz is determined to ensure the setback does not derail their domestic campaign.

Speaking to iDiski Times, the French tactician stressed that the team’s immediate priority is the Carling Knockout Cup clash against TS Galaxy as they seek to put their continental disappointment behind them.

“In my mind the most important is the next game against TS Galaxy in the Carling Cup because every time the most important game is the next one,” Da Cruz said.

The Chiefs coach believes the demanding fixture schedule will provide his players with an opportunity to quickly redirect their attention towards their remaining objectives rather than dwell on the painful exit.

The Carling Knockout Cup presents Chiefs with another opportunity to compete for silverware, with the technical team expected to focus on preparing the squad for the upcoming challenge against TS Galaxy.

Da Cruz has previously acknowledged the quality of their opponents and the importance of proper preparation, particularly with limited recovery time between matches.

The fixture also comes ahead of the highly anticipated Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates, adding further importance to Chiefs’ efforts to regain momentum and deliver positive results in domestic competition.

Meanwhile, the club’s sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Junior, has reaffirmed management’s support for Da Cruz and his technical team despite the disappointment of their continental elimination.

Although the Confederation Cup exit has increased scrutiny of the team’s performances, the club’s leadership remains supportive of the coaching staff and its long-term plans.

Da Cruz will now be hoping his players respond positively against TS Galaxy and use the disappointment of their continental campaign as motivation to pursue success on the domestic front.