Kaizer Chiefs Coach Fernando Da Cruz Opens Up About Pressure Amid Growing Unhappiness at the Club

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has spoken openly about the pressure he faces at the Soweto giants, as unhappiness grows behind the scenes over the team’s recent form.

Sources inside the club say differences have appeared between the hierarchy and coaching staff about Da Cruz’s team selections. The Frenchman has not delivered the consistent results that Amakhosi fans expect. Although Chiefs remain unbeaten in the Betway Premiership this season, their overall form has been poor. In their last eight matches across all competitions, they have managed just two wins, five draws and one loss.

Da Cruz says he knew the job would come with high expectations from the day he arrived. He puts pressure on himself every day to improve the squad step by step. “From the day I joined Kaizer Chiefs, I knew that the pressure would be very high,” he said. “We don’t get the results from the moment we expect them, and that the fans expect. The most important thing for me is that the fans must be happy. We are only on our job.”

The coach was also asked about Kaizer Chiefs’ struggle over the past decade, during which the club has found it hard to return to its former dominance. He insists the team is still in a rebuilding phase and that real progress takes time. To explain his point, he pointed to examples from Europe. Arsenal needed seven years under Mikel Arteta before they won a major title, while Paris Saint-Germain waited 13 years to lift the Champions League.

“Everyone is free to think what they want,” Da Cruz added. “The most important thing is to continue to develop our club because we are only focused on that. When we want to develop one project in one club, it takes time. It’s not from one day to the other day.”

Chiefs’ latest setback came in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they lost 1-0 away to Zambian side Red Arrows. They now face a tough second leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium if they hope to reach the group stage. Da Cruz has called for unity among players, staff and supporters while the team works to become more efficient in attack and turn draws into victories. For now, the pressure continues to build on the coach as Amakhosi try to steady the ship.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2113345414879666263

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