Kaizer Chiefs boss Fernando da Cruz hopes TS Galaxy win can spark revival

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz hopes his side’s 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy will mark a turning point after a difficult run of results.

The Amakhosi ended a five-match winless sequence in all competitions with a convincing win over the Rockets, while also booking their place in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals.

The result came shortly after Chiefs were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup and provided a much-needed response for Da Cruz’s team.

Wandile Duba was the decisive figure, scoring a second-half hat-trick to secure the victory. Da Cruz believes the performance can help restore confidence as Chiefs prepare for an important period of the season.

“The difference is efficiency, today we made a good game, but sometimes we made a better game, and we didn’t win and I hope that now it’s the starter for us to keep confidence and we continue on this way,” Da Cruz told SuperSport TV.

Chiefs will now turn their attention to the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates, which will be played at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Da Cruz said the team had continued to believe in its approach despite failing to convert performances into results during their winless run. He wants the players to recover quickly before beginning preparations for the derby.

“We’re having confidence in our model game but not in the efficiency and I hope we get ready and since this evening, we’re going to recover and we will prepare the game for this Saturday,” Da Cruz said.

The victory was also significant in the history of this fixture. It was Kaizer Chiefs’ first cup win over TS Galaxy, who famously defeated the Amakhosi in the 2019 Nedbank Cup.

Duba’s goals ensured Chiefs progressed in the Carling Knockout and gave Da Cruz an opportunity to build momentum after the disappointment of their CAF Confederation Cup exit. The coach will hope that the improved finishing displayed against TS Galaxy carries into the meeting with Orlando Pirates.