Da Cruz says experience gave Orlando Pirates the edge over Kaizer Chiefs in Soweto Derby

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz believes the greater experience and consistency in Orlando Pirates’ squad proved decisive as his side lost 2-1 in Saturday’s Soweto Derby.

The Frenchman also said the match was Chiefs’ third in one week, a demanding schedule for a young team that he felt contributed to the defeat.

Da Cruz acknowledged that Amakhosi have yet to reach the level of consistency needed to compete regularly with more experienced opponents. However, he said that continued work would eventually help his players develop those qualities.

“There are many factors. First, it’s our third game in one week, and for a young team like us, it’s a lot,” Da Cruz told journalists at his post-match press conference.

“The difference between Pirates and us today is that they have more experienced players and with this type of players they have more consistency.

“Our young players need to learn to have consistency, but it takes time. It’s a process and we need to take it step by step. For the moment, we are not at this level yet, but because we work, we will reach this level.”

The Chiefs manager was also critical of the circumstances surrounding Orlando Pirates’ opening goal, arguing that the decision to allow it to stand was incorrect.

Da Cruz said he believed the goal should have been ruled out for offside, and expressed his frustration at the way his team conceded during a match in which the result went against them.

“It’s always disappointing to concede goals and to lose games. In any way we concede goals, it’s always disappointing,” he said.

“The analysis is very clear, one more time, the first goal is offside. The assistant referee is just in front of us, he sees the situation as us, the players are offside.”

He then highlighted a second problem that he felt repeatedly exposed Kaizer Chiefs: losing possession in midfield and giving Orlando Pirates opportunities to attack in transition.

“And the second goal, as many times in the game, we lose too much ball in the middle and after we offer them offensive transitions to create chances,” Da Cruz said.

“So just the fact that we offer them, they don’t create, we offer them offensive transitions to create chances. And again, this team, if you offer them offensive transitions, they can kill anybody at any time.”

The defeat leaves Da Cruz focused on improving the consistency of a developing Kaizer Chiefs side, while he maintained that the process would require patience and progress over time.