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Chiefs players support coach Fernando da Cruz, insisting on collective responsibility for mistakes
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Chiefs players support coach Fernando da Cruz, insisting on collective responsibility for mistakes

The Kaizer Chiefs team aims to develop a positive start to the season by demanding maximum concentration and minimizing errors from coach Fernando da Cruz.

In the Betway Premiership season, Chiefs remain undefeated, securing two wins and drawing two matches. As a result, they are in fourth place in the league table with eight points, five points behind leaders Orlando Pirates, who also have one more match played.

This promising start has given fans confidence that the team can improve its performance compared to third place last season, especially considering that the combination of experienced and new players is beginning to yield results.

Before the upcoming match against Siwelele FC at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday (at 15:00), Da Cruz warned his team not to relax, noting that any opponent in the league poses a serious threat.

Da Cruz stated: 'We respect Siwelele. The championship is very difficult. It is one of the best leagues on the continent, so we respect every opponent.'

He continued: 'We want to keep improving. We need to become more effective in the final third of the field, correct our mistakes, and achieve higher positions in the rankings.'

One of Chiefs' weaknesses this season is defensive play. Goalkeeper and captain Brandon Petersen made three costly errors, including one in the MTN8 quarter-final loss to Golden Arrows 1-0, which remains the team's most noticeable shortcoming.

Da Cruz supported his number one, explaining that mistakes are an integral part of the game. Meanwhile, defender Zita Kwinika stated that the conceded goals were a result of a general loss of concentration.

Kwinika noted: 'I believe that mistakes are part of football. I will always be on Bizer's side. He is a big guy and understands what is happening. It might rain now, but the sun will rise again. I won't dwell on the past.'

He emphasized: 'Ultimately, all of us contribute to what happens on the field. For an opponent to score, it means someone failed to stop them; it cannot be just on Petersen. We all contribute to this.'

Kwinika added that the only way to improve defensive play is to constantly pay close attention to details. He concluded: 'It is a matter of correctly executing tasks. I understand that we need a clean sheet. What we take from this is the analysis of how we concede goals. It is a matter of paying more attention to detail, not a lack of structure.'

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Kaizer Chiefs defender Zita Qwinnika states that young players are ready to take responsibility for the club
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iol.co.za

Kaizer Chiefs defender Zita Qwinnika states that young players are ready to take responsibility for the club

Kaizer Chiefs defender Zita Qwinnika expressed confidence that the club's young footballers are capable of shouldering the burden of representing one of South Africa's largest football clubs. He noted that there are no 'small players' at the club.

INTERNAL FOOTBALL

In the current season, Asanele Velebayi and Luke Bartman stand out as bright young stars at Kaizer Chiefs. Qwinnika believes that the club's youth is ready to bear the responsibility associated with playing for one of South Africa's leading clubs.

This season, the Chiefs management has increasingly assigned attacking tasks to young players; five of the team's eight goals were scored by players aged 22 or under. This approach is also reflected in the recruitment work, as Fernando da Cruz continues to shape the squad.

However, this strategy raises questions about whether the team can maintain its progress by relying on players whose careers are still in the formative stages. Nevertheless, Qwinnika asserts that age should not determine a player's ability to play for Amakhosi.

He emphasized: 'There are no small players at Kaizer Chiefs; it is Kaizer Chiefs, and they know about this responsibility (which comes with it).' The defender believes that joining Chiefs immediately changes expectations from a player, regardless of their experience or age.

'We move away from the mentality of small and big players; we are all here to represent (the club), and we all know what is required. As soon as you sign a contract, you are told what is at stake and what is required of you to survive here,' he added.

The young players of Chiefs have already made an impression this season. Notable among them are Langelihle Phili, Luke Bartman, Mduduzi Shabalaala, and Mfundu Vilakazi, who frequently feature in Da Cruz's plans. Phili, who moved to Chiefs from Stellenbosch, has already scored in the Betway Premier League, and Bartman and Shabalaala have also contributed to the attack.

Qwinnika is convinced that the youth understands that playing for Chiefs is more than just an opportunity to gain experience. 'These are big guys; they are here working for their families and know what it takes to represent the badge.'

The defender's comments highlight a changing approach in Naturena, where young players are not just brought into the first team but are expected to make an immediate contribution. For Da Cruz, this trust has also given the team a different dynamic as Chiefs strives to build a collective capable of competing on multiple fronts. Given that five of the eight goals have already been scored by players under 22, early data suggests that the youth is meeting the responsibility placed upon them.

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