Wandile Duba double gives Kaizer Chiefs winning start under Fernando Da Cruz

Kaizer Chiefs began the Fernando Da Cruz era with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Betway Premiership newcomers Kruger United at a packed Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

The result gives Amakhosi maximum points and sends them to the top of the league table after their opening match under the French coach.

Flavio Silva put Chiefs ahead early, before substitute Wandile Duba struck twice in the second half to settle an entertaining contest. Kruger United had briefly threatened to spoil the visitors’ night when Khethukuthula Ndlovu produced a fine finish to level the match just before half-time.

United went into the interval with renewed belief after Ndlovu’s equaliser, but Chiefs responded strongly after the break. Duba’s second-half brace ensured the visitors returned to Johannesburg with a victory and provided Da Cruz with the ideal start to his reign.

There were also celebrations for Da Cruz’s newly assembled technical team, with the former coaches’ arrival having brought a fresh chapter for the club.

Da Cruz replaced co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who had led Chiefs to a third-place finish in the league. Despite the change in the dugout, the new manager opted not to alter the Glamour Boys’ starting line-up for the match.

He did, however, demonstrate his confidence in two younger players, Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman. Both had been given limited opportunities to start regularly under the previous coaching team, but each played an important role in Chiefs’ success against Kruger United.

Vilakazi provided the decisive contribution for the opening goal by setting up Silva, while Baartman impressed throughout the match and was named Man of the Match.

Chiefs approached the game with notable speed when moving forward and made good use of the chances they created in front of goal. That attacking efficiency ultimately proved the difference, particularly after United had managed to restore parity shortly before the break.

The hosts’ equaliser had given them momentum and left the match finely balanced at half-time. Chiefs, though, recovered from the setback and found another level in the second half, with Duba converting his opportunities to complete the scoring.

The 3-1 win means Da Cruz starts his tenure with a statement result, while Chiefs leave Mbombela Stadium leading the Betway Premiership table. For Kruger United, the match marked a difficult introduction to life as newcomers to the competition, despite Ndlovu’s well-taken goal and their determined first-half display.