Kaizer Chiefs face gruelling six-day schedule after MTN8 exit

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says he will need his entire squad during a demanding week that includes three matches in six days, after the club’s MTN8 campaign ended against Golden Arrows.

Chiefs were eliminated by Golden Arrows on Sunday evening following their match at FNB Stadium. Their attention now turns to the Betway Premiership, with home fixtures against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday night and Mamelodi Sundowns also scheduled during the busy period.

The congested programme has influenced Da Cruz’s selection decisions, with wingers Asanele Velebayi and Pule Mmodi not used in the match against Golden Arrows. The French coach said their absence was part of a wider plan to manage the squad across the demanding run of fixtures.

“Players like Asanele Velebayi or Pule Mmodi, it’s a choice for today but also we have three games in six days so we will need all the squad for these three games because it will be a tough week for us,” Da Cruz told the media.

Da Cruz, who is 54, was speaking after the defeat at FNB Stadium as he explained the changes made to his team. He stressed that the decision involving Velebayi and Mmodi was not necessarily a reflection of their standing in the squad, but was linked to the need to preserve options for the matches ahead.

The coach also pointed to the impact of injuries on his selection choices. Several players remain unavailable, adding to the challenge of managing a squad through a short period containing three games.

“Also today, we miss all the players who are again injured,” Da Cruz explained.

He said those players were continuing their rehabilitation and would return gradually rather than being rushed back into action.

“They make their rehabilitation and but also interest in the players who are available for the moment, and they will come back step by step.”

Chiefs therefore begin their Betway Premiership schedule under pressure to respond after the MTN8 disappointment, while also dealing with limited recovery time between matches. The upcoming home games against Sekhukhune United and Mamelodi Sundowns will form part of a demanding sequence that Da Cruz believes will require contributions from every available member of his squad.

The defeat by Golden Arrows ended Chiefs’ involvement in the MTN8, leaving the team to concentrate on the league fixtures during a week in which player rotation and fitness will be central to the coach’s plans. Da Cruz’s comments underline the importance of managing both the fit players and those working their way back from injury as the campaign continues.