Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz believes Orlando Pirates currently possess a crucial advantage over Amakhosi: experience.
Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the Betway Premiership season after going down 2-1 to their fierce Soweto rivals. The result underlined the gap between the two teams, with the Buccaneers sitting 11 points ahead of Amakhosi in the league standings.
While the defeat was disappointing, Da Cruz believes his team showed encouraging signs. However, the Frenchman admits that Chiefs still have important work to do before they can match Pirates’ consistency.
Da Cruz identifies Pirates’ advantage
According to Da Cruz, Orlando Pirates benefit from having a more experienced squad, which helps the team deliver consistent performances.
He believes that is an area his young Kaizer Chiefs players must improve if they want to compete regularly at the highest level.
“The difference between Pirates and us, they have more experienced players and they have more consistency because of that,” Da Cruz said.
“Our young players need to develop this consistency game by game. It takes time, it’s a process we need to take step by step and for the moment we’re not there. We will work hard to reach this step.”
The Chiefs coach was encouraged by aspects of his side’s first-half display in the derby. Nevertheless, he insisted that playing well for certain periods is not enough to secure results against top opposition.
Da Cruz wants his players to learn from the defeat and use demanding fixtures as opportunities to improve.
“We must use this type of game to grow up. The players must reach the next steps, but the players must understand we played well, we did good things, but it’s not enough. We must reach the next steps now,” he added.
Da Cruz asks for patience as Chiefs rebuild
The Frenchman also made it clear that experience cannot be developed overnight. It comes through regular matches, training and exposure to different levels of competition.
He urged the team to remain committed to the process, suggesting that supporters should not expect an instant transformation.
“We must continue to work but it takes time, it takes time, it’s not overnight these things can be fixed. We cannot get experience from one day to the next day. It’s training, many games and we must continue to learn, with competitions of different levels,” he said.
Chiefs must now turn their attention to the Carling Knockout, where they are scheduled to host Siwelele FC in the quarter-finals at FNB Stadium on Friday. The kick-off time is yet to be confirmed.
For Amakhosi, the immediate challenge is to respond to the derby defeat. But Da Cruz’s message is clear: building the experience and consistency needed to challenge Pirates will take time.
