Kaizer Chiefs boss Da Cruz confident of recovery after MTN8 defeat

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz says he is confident his side will recover from their 1-0 MTN8 defeat by Golden Arrows, despite admitting disappointment at exiting the competition at the first hurdle.

Khulekani Shezi scored the only goal of the match in the second half at FNB Stadium on Saturday to send Golden Arrows through and end Kaizer Chiefs’ involvement in the season’s first domestic cup competition.

The result was an early setback for Da Cruz, who had begun his reign as Kaizer Chiefs manager with an encouraging 3-1 victory over Kruger United in the opening match of the Betway Premiership at Mbombela Stadium the previous week.

“Today is really disappointing because we wanted to win and progress to the next round, but there are other competitions and we need to work hard and improve on our weaknesses,” Da Cruz told reporters after the match.

“At the beginning of the match we were late in everything, but we got better.

“If we compare this game to the others, our beginning was a bit far from the levels we showed in previous fixtures.

“But I’m not afraid. We will keep working and looking forward to the future.”

Da Cruz said the main source of frustration was Kaizer Chiefs’ inability to convert the opportunities they created. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was among those unable to make the most of the team’s chances, and the coach acknowledged that finishing must improve.

“If you look at the statistics, we had 20 shots on target, the team wanted to score, we created a lot of chances, but we didn’t score,” he said.

The coach remained positive about the foundations being laid by his squad, while also emphasising the importance of maintaining the right mentality as the season develops.

“We’re happy with our base or foundation and we want the fans to be proud of this team in the next few weeks.

“We are working to find a good balance, and the most important is the mindset of the team. We are happy about that; the players are coming back step by step and we are not worried.”

There was also a first appearance for young forward Langelihle Phili, who came on as a substitute. Da Cruz praised the player’s contribution but said he would need more conditioning before he was ready to play at full intensity.

“I’m happy with Phili’s performance, but he is not at 100% ready at the moment. We are taking things step by step and need to be careful.”

Kaizer Chiefs now turn their attention back to the Betway Premiership. They host Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium on Wednesday, when Da Cruz’s side will be aiming to respond to the MTN8 disappointment with a return to winning ways.

The defeat means Kaizer Chiefs have lost their opportunity to progress in the first domestic cup competition of the campaign, but Da Cruz insists the result will not derail the team’s wider development. His immediate focus is on improving the side’s opening periods, sharpening its finishing and continuing to build confidence among the players as the season moves forward.