Fernando da Cruz Voices His Concerns Despite Kaizer Chiefs’ Win Over Siwelele
- Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz raised serious concerns about his side's defensive display despite winning 3-2 against Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium
- Siwelele scored twice in the second half through Aphiwe Baliti and Michael N'Guessan to turn a comfortable lead into a nervy finish for the Glamour Boys
- Da Cruz made a scathing assessment of his defensive line, warning that Chiefs must address a lack of leadership and character at the back
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz praised his side's resilience after a 3-2 win over Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, but made clear that the performance exposed persistent problems in his defensive unit that he expects his players to correct.
The Glamour Boys built a two-goal advantage through academy products Mfundo Vilakazi and Wandile Duba before the break, having created numerous opportunities throughout the opening half. Faiz Abrahams later forced an own-goal from Samuleke Xulu to extend the lead further. However, Chiefs' failure to be clinical enough allowed Siwelele back into the contest, with Aphiwe Baliti and Michael N'Guessan both converting in the second half to set up a tense finish.
**Da Cruz Calls Out Defensive Lapses**
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the final whistle, Da Cruz pointed to a recurring problem in the way his side managed their lead. "In the first half we created several chances but didn't score enough, in the second half, Siwelele had two chances and scored two goals, we have an issue about that, we need to improve our defence, not give these chances to opponents," he said.
The French coach was equally direct about what he believes is missing from his backline, delivering a stark verdict on the mentality of the players in that unit. "We lack leadership and character, personality in our defensive line — so we need to correct that and work a lot," Da Cruz added.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
He also linked Chiefs' defensive vulnerabilities to their wastefulness in front of goal, arguing that the inability to put games beyond doubt creates unnecessary pressure. "We created so much and didn't score, so after you can make mistakes, we're not clinical in the boxes, offensively and defensively," he said.
**Chiefs Remain Unbeaten in Betway Premiership**
Despite the concerns raised by their coach, the three points strengthened Chiefs' position in the Betway Premiership standings. The result extended their unbeaten run to five matches, with three wins and two draws to their name, placing them third on the log.
Da Cruz will be expecting a sharper, more composed performance at the back as the campaign intensifies in the coming weeks.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
