Kaizer Chiefs may have collected another important victory, but head coach Fernando Da Cruz believes there is still plenty of work to do if Amakhosi are serious about challenging for the Betway Premiership title.
Chiefs edged Siwelele FC 3-2 on Sunday, securing three valuable points and moving back into third place on the league table.
However, the result did little to hide the defensive concerns troubling Da Cruz.
Da Cruz demands more from Chiefs’ defence
While Amakhosi showed their attacking quality to score three goals, their inability to keep Siwelele at bay left the Chiefs coach frustrated.
Da Cruz admitted that his team created enough opportunities but failed to make the most of them, while also allowing their opponents too many openings.
The French coach believes Chiefs must become more disciplined in both penalty areas if they want to compete consistently at the top of the table.
‘Lack of leadership’ concerns Chiefs coach
One of Da Cruz’s biggest concerns appears to be the character and leadership within his defensive unit.
The Chiefs coach was particularly critical of the team’s defending and believes his players need to show greater personality when under pressure.
His assessment comes despite Chiefs having one of the league’s strongest defensive records last season.
The Amakhosi have already conceded four goals in their opening five league matches this campaign, highlighting an area Da Cruz wants addressed quickly.
Injuries have limited Da Cruz’s options
The Chiefs coach also pointed to injuries as a factor affecting his selection options.
Several players have been unavailable, leaving Da Cruz with fewer alternatives when selecting his starting XI.
He remains confident that the squad will become stronger once the injured players return, particularly because increased competition could give him more flexibility in both defence and attack.
That depth could prove crucial as the season progresses.
Can Kaizer Chiefs challenge for the title?
The early league standings suggest Chiefs are firmly in the conversation.
Amakhosi have already demonstrated their ability to grind out results, and their latest victory keeps them within touching distance of the leading teams.
But if Da Cruz’s side are to sustain a genuine title challenge, their defensive performances will need to improve.
Scoring three goals is encouraging, but conceding twice against Siwelele once again demonstrated that Chiefs cannot afford to rely solely on their attacking players.
With the campaign still in its early stages, Da Cruz has time to address those weaknesses.
The question now is whether Chiefs can turn their promising start into a serious Betway Premiership title challenge.
