Kaizer Chiefs target sharper finishing against Stellenbosch to end winless run

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has challenged his side to improve their finishing as they look to end a two-match winless run against Stellenbosch FC in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium tomorrow.

Amakhosi have won only one of their past five matches, a sequence that has raised concern as they attempt to mount a serious challenge for honours. Their most recent league fixtures, before the international break, ended in draws against Polokwane City and Golden Arrows.

Da Cruz believes the team’s performances have generally been strong, but says missed opportunities inside the penalty area have cost them points.

“After the seventh game, I am happy with the quality of the football that we play. We played very good football. But we have a lack of efficiency inside the box to score more goals,” he said.

“The points that we have lost are because of this lack of efficiency inside the box; we don’t score more goals, so we will work on that. But we play good football, and we must keep it this way.”

Chiefs are fourth in the league standings with 13 points from seven matches. They trail Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu, who occupy the three positions above them respectively.

Their next opponents, Stellenbosch, have had the better of recent meetings between the clubs. They are unbeaten in the last three matches against Chiefs and have won the past two. Da Cruz, however, believes those results will have no bearing on the latest encounter.

The match also comes shortly before Chiefs begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign. They will travel to Zambia later this week to face Red Arrows in the first leg of the second preliminary round.

Despite the continental fixture on the horizon and the club’s ambition to compete across all fronts, Da Cruz says the immediate priority is the meeting with Stellenbosch.

Chiefs will have to manage the contest without several players affected by injuries. Lebohang Maboe, Brandon Petersen, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Adolf Mutasingwa are among the key players unavailable to the coach.

With Chiefs seeking to close the distance on the leading teams, Da Cruz’s main task is to turn the quality of their build-up play into more goals and, ultimately, a return to winning ways.