Da Cruz urged to be given time as Kaizer Chiefs prepare for Toyota Cup test against Scottland FC

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Mokete Tsotetsi has called on Amakhosi supporters not to pile pressure on new coach Fernando Da Cruz ahead of Sunday’s Toyota Cup meeting with Scottland FC, insisting the match must be treated strictly as part of pre-season preparations.

Chiefs face the Zimbabwean side at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 26 July in what will be Da Cruz’s first game in charge on South African soil. While the Toyota Cup is billed as a glamour occasion, Tsotetsi believes the focus should be on testing ideas rather than chasing a statement result.

Chiefs coaches, however, are rarely afforded such leeway. Even in friendly competitions, the club’s passionate fan base is known for demanding victories and, historically, has shown little patience when performances fall short.

Past Toyota Cup setbacks fuel expectations

Chiefs have lost their most recent Toyota Cup outings, going down to Tanzania’s Young Africans in 2024 and Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in 2025. Those defeats prompted immediate criticism from sections of the support, underlining the scrutiny that surrounds the side even outside official competitions.

Tsotetsi fears similar reactions if Amakhosi fail to win on Sunday, but argues that Da Cruz’s circumstances make this fixture very different.

“Coach, arrived two weeks after they reported for pre-season, did the pre-season; for now there should be no pressure, he understands the culture of the team, this game is for him to build a relationship with the players, and make them understand how he wants them to play,” Tsotetsi tells KickOff.

The Frenchman is still in the early stages of implementing his methods, with the squad only recently completing its first full pre-season under his guidance. For Tsotetsi, that context is vital when judging whatever happens against Scottland FC.

Billiat and Musona plot reunion with Amakhosi

The Toyota Cup clash also carries added intrigue because Scottland FC’s squad includes two former Kaizer Chiefs favourites, Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona. Both forwards enjoyed successful spells in Naturena and are familiar with the club’s expectations and style.

“Knowing the former Kaizer Chiefs players who are now with Scotland, Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, they will be looking to toy with Kaizer Chiefs and have some fun on the day. That’s normal,” Tsotetsi says.

Their involvement ensures Chiefs will face motivated opposition, but Tsotetsi maintains that Da Cruz should use the occasion primarily to assess his own players rather than worry about the narrative around the reunion.

‘He can’t be too cautious’

Tsotetsi believes the Toyota Cup offers Da Cruz a valuable opportunity to test his tactical approach and gauge how well the squad has absorbed his philosophy over the past few weeks.

“The Kaizer Chiefs coach will be looking to see if his players now understand his philosophy. He can’t be too cautious. The approach should be to have a go at Scotland,” he explains.

“At this stage is all about checking if the boys understand how he wants them to play. The supporters must support him; we need to give him a chance. Building a team is not easy. Results come when you are not under pressure.”

With expectations high after back-to-back Toyota Cup defeats and a new era beginning under Da Cruz, Tsotetsi’s message to the Amakhosi faithful is clear: treat Sunday less as a must-win cup final and more as a crucial step in a longer rebuilding process.