Da Cruz explains Kaizer Chiefs’ late struggles against Orlando Pirates in Soweto Derby

DA CRUZ IDENTIFIES LACK OF EXPERIENCE AS KAIZER CHIEFS’ LATE DERBY STRUGGLES COME UNDER SCRUTINY

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — 31 OCTOBER 2026

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has pointed to a lack of experience among his young players as one of the key reasons behind the team’s struggles during the final 20 minutes of their Soweto Derby defeat against Orlando Pirates.

Amakhosi suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to their fierce rivals at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, bringing their unbeaten run to an end and handing the Buccaneers an important victory in one of South African football’s biggest fixtures.

Despite showing moments of promise during the encounter, Chiefs struggled to maintain their effectiveness as the match approached its closing stages. Their inability to create meaningful attacking opportunities and their defensive vulnerability became major concerns for the technical team.

Speaking after the match, Da Cruz specifically highlighted the inexperience within his squad, particularly among the younger players who were involved in the closing stages.

“It’s just the last 20 minutes with our young players … we have a lack of experience,” the French coach explained.

His assessment suggested that the problem was not necessarily a lack of effort but rather the ability to manage difficult moments in a high-pressure encounter of this magnitude

Sourcehttps://x.com/ChiefsCentralZA/status/2116557415906742468.

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