Da Cruz targets silverware after making winning start at Kaizer Chiefs

Fernando Da Cruz says his overriding aim is to deliver trophies for Kaizer Chiefs after beginning his reign with victory in the Toyota Cup.

The new Amakhosi head coach claimed his first piece of silverware in South African football on Sunday, as Chiefs edged Scotland FC 1-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Buoyed by that success, the Frenchman has made clear he intends to challenge on all fronts this season, including in the Betway Premiership.

Speaking at the launch of the Betway Premiership at The Venue in Houghton on Wednesday, Da Cruz underlined that expectation for a club of Chiefs’ stature.

“The idea is to start the competition well, to go progressively, but above all to start well,” he said.

Ambition to ‘fight and win trophies’ Da Cruz stressed that building early momentum in the league is his immediate priority, but insisted the broader objective remains to compete for honours throughout the campaign.

“But the ambition, of course, is to fight and win trophies this season, for sure, because we are a big club with a big history. There are a lot of fans, we have a lot of ambitions, but our first step is to start very well in the championship. After that, during the season, step by step, give our best to win trophies,” Da Cruz explained.

The 51-year-old, who only recently took charge at Naturena, has stepped into a role that comes with intense scrutiny and high expectations from one of the country’s largest fanbases.

Early test in Betway Premiership opener Chiefs’ first competitive assignment of the 2026/27 season comes on Saturday, when they travel to face newly promoted Kruger United in Mbombela.

The away fixture will offer Da Cruz an immediate indication of how well his ideas have taken hold following the Toyota Cup triumph, as Chiefs look to translate pre-season success into league form.

While the win over Scotland FC has given the French coach a positive platform, he has been keen to temper any premature excitement, repeatedly emphasising the need for a strong, measured start in the Betway Premiership and steady improvement “step by step” over the course of the season.

Da Cruz’s comments come in a week of heightened activity around the club and the domestic game, with attention turning firmly towards the new campaign and the pressure on Kaizer Chiefs to end their wait for major silverware.