The coach of Sekhukhune United, Cedric Kaze, has set his goal to win the MTN8 trophy. He noted that despite successfully returning to the head coach position, he still has to get used to working at the new club.
Kaze took over Sekhukhune during the current transfer window after working at 'Kaiser Chiefs', where he initially joined as an assistant to Nasreddin Nabi and later completed his tenure as co-coach to Khalil Ben Youssef. Before joining 'Chiefs', this Burundian tactician accumulated impressive experience, including two and a half years at FC Barcelona Academy, as well as head coaching roles in local football in Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
When asked about the various coaching roles he held in the PSL over the past two years, Kaze replied: 'It's not the first time. I was the head coach for several years before this. It's nothing new for me. It was a good transition to a new team, structure, and environment with new management.' He added: 'I am learning on the job. As a coach, you learn every day, including from the people you work with.'
For Sekhukhune United, this is an opportunity to achieve two goals simultaneously: settling into the new place and competing for trophies. The team reached the MTN8 semi-finals, where they are set to play against 'Orlando Pirates' in a two-legged confrontation. The first match will take place at home at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 15:00.
When asked whether winning the MTN8 or achieving a higher finish than fifth place last season was preferable, Kaze remained undecided. He stated: 'If you ask me to choose between these two things, it's like asking a parent to choose between a daughter and a son. I like both options. We want to participate in all competitions.' He also acknowledged the realism of the question, mentioning difficulties such as squad depth, which can hinder competition on all fronts, but emphasized the desire to do everything possible to give themselves a chance in both areas.
Sekhukhune's path to the final promises to be difficult, as 'Pirates' are the reigning Vodacom Cup champions, having won it four seasons in a row. Sekhukhune United coach Cedric Kaze highlighted the high energy demands of modern football and also reported a double blow: the absence of injured Wuyo Letlapa and the loan of Tsepho Mashiloane against 'Orlando Pirates'.
Furthermore, 'Pirates' have a scheduling advantage after their trip to Polokwane. They will host 'Babini Noko' mid-week in the league at the 'Orlando United Arena', and then meet them again in the return MTN8 match next Saturday. Although 'Babini Noko' have already faced another Soweto giant—Kaze's former employer, 'Chiefs'—where they lost 2-0 away, it was expected that they would learn lessons from that game before facing 'Pirates'. However, Kaze disagreed with this view.
'I didn't like that game,' said Kaze. 'I made sure the players were aware of it. I thought we played without courage; we played with the handbrake on. I didn't recognize a personality in the team capable of taking the lead and challenging the opponent.' He continued: 'The response against 'Polokwane City' was very good (we won 2-0). I hope that on Saturday we will have a positive attitude and mindset, knowing when to press high and manage all these key moments.'