Fernando da Cruz targets sharper Kaizer Chiefs attack to close Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns gap

Fernando da Cruz says transforming Kaizer Chiefs into a far more clinical attacking side is his main priority as he looks to cut the sizeable gap to Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership title race.

The Chiefs head coach, speaking at the Betway Premiership launch in Johannesburg, admitted last season exposed a clear divide between Amakhosi and the league’s leading pair, particularly in the final third.

Chiefs finished the previous campaign with one of the best defensive records in the division, conceding the second-fewest goals behind eventual champions Orlando Pirates. But their inability to match the top sides’ firepower left them unable to sustain a genuine challenge for the title.

Amakhosi ended the season as only the fourth-highest scorers in the Betway Premiership, trailing Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The numbers underlined the scale of the task in attack. Sundowns scored 24 more goals than Chiefs, while Pirates finished a full 25 goals better off over the course of the season.

“We always want to improve the level of our team and we know the team has defended very well in the previous seasons,” said Da Cruz.

“But the gap between Chiefs and the two other teams above us was a little bit high so that’s definitely an area that we want to improve but we don’t want to just improve individuals but development and improve the entire attacking dynamic is the most important to me.”

Collective attacking identity

Da Cruz, who hails from Portugal, is clear that the solution will not be found in pinning hopes on a single star forward. Instead, he wants a more cohesive and recognisable attacking structure, with responsibility shared across the squad.

He believes a better collective understanding in the final third is essential if Chiefs are to keep pace with Pirates and Sundowns over an entire campaign. While their defensive organisation offered a reliable platform last season, they lacked the consistency and cutting edge required to turn that solidity into sustained pressure on the top two.

As a result, Da Cruz has placed the emphasis on refining the team’s overall offensive approach rather than just tweaking personnel. He is focusing on sharper movement off the ball, improved combination play in and around the penalty area and smarter decision-making in key moments.

The aim is for Chiefs to create and convert chances more regularly, turning narrow draws into wins and putting opponents under the kind of attacking strain that Pirates and Sundowns imposed so frequently last term.

Transfers and expectations

Chiefs have also acted in the transfer market, strengthening the squad in a bid to assemble a group capable of challenging for honours on several fronts this season. The club believes those additions, combined with a clearer attacking identity, can help close the gap to the league’s dominant clubs.

For Da Cruz, the challenge is to balance the team’s established defensive resilience with a new-found ruthlessness in front of goal. He wants the backline’s reliability to be matched by a forward line that can regularly decide matches.

The Soweto giants begin their Betway Premiership campaign on Saturday with an away fixture against newly promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium, a test that will offer an early indication of whether the work done on their attacking game is starting to pay off.

With the title race again expected to be fiercely contested, Da Cruz knows Chiefs’ prospects of re-establishing themselves among South Africa’s elite will hinge on one key question: whether Amakhosi can turn more of their opportunities into goals and finally narrow the gap to Pirates and Sundowns.