Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has come out firing with the stats to prove Amakhosi are improving, despite three straight losses. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze mounted a strong defence of his side’s recent struggles, but after the words spoken at the press conference, the real response will have to come on the pitch when the Amakhosi host Durban City FC in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm kick-off).
With three consecutive defeats weighing heavily on the club, Chiefs are trying to project calm amid growing frustration from supporters. Yet, after the events of the past two weeks — including fan protests and mounting criticism — the sense on Thursday morning at the club's base suggested the team understands that things are not quite going according to plan.
When Kaze walked into the briefing room, he appeared prepared not only to address the upcoming clash with Durban City, but also to defend how the season has unfolded so far.
Pressure at a club of Chiefs’ stature is constant, whether results are positive or not. But when victories are scarce, that pressure intensifies quickly. Armed with notes and statistics displayed on screen, Kaze attempted to provide context to the team’s campaign.
“There has been a lot of things around, but I would first like to have a moment to speak, and I would only like to speak about football and not the noise that is around. I am a coach and my job is on the field.” Kaze said.
The “noise” he referred to largely stems from supporters frustrated by inconsistent performances, the recent losing run and lingering concerns about the team’s style and identity. That frustration has not only been voiced online and in the stands but also saw some fans visit the club’s headquarters to express their dissatisfaction.
Reading from prepared notes, Kaze began breaking down the team’s progress.
“I am first going to do an evaluation of the 18 games we have played since the start of the season.
"To put it into context, I am going to go back to the last two seasons after 18 games. In the 2023/24 season, after 18 games, we conceded 12 goals with seven losses and had 25 points in tenth position.
"In the 2024/25 season, 24 goals were conceded after 18 games, with eight losses and 24 points, finishing in ninth position. Today, we have four losses with 30 points.”
Kaze went on to highlight that Chiefs currently have the third-best defensive record in the league, behind Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, having conceded just 12 goals this season.
While the statistics paint a more positive picture than recent results might suggest, the underlying concern remains the team’s lack of cutting edge in attack, with their goals-per-game ratio still below one per match.
Kaze also addressed the recent defeats, taking responsibility for some of the shortcomings.
“The last three games have raised a lot of questions. I am going to start with the Stellenbosch game in the league. It’s a game we should have won easily, we had four or five opportunities to score in the first half.
“At some point every team can have an off day, and unfortunately for us it was in the derby match. It’s a game we didn’t do anything and I take full responsibility for that.
“It is one of those games where you had to be at your best because that is the game that fans look forward to even six months prior to the fixture, and on the day we did not show up.
“The last game against Richards Bay was on a difficult field. We made individual mistakes and conceded a goal.
"It was unfortunate, but we were not bad in the game. They were not dangerous, but in the end we lost three points.”
With the explanations delivered and the numbers laid out, the focus now shifts back to the pitch. Ultimately, whatever was said in the briefing room will matter little if Chiefs cannot translate those words into results when they face Durban City this weekend.
* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch