Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has admitted Amakhosi edged Durban City FC 1-0 in a smash-and-grab fashion during Friday’s Betway Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Substitute Flavio da Silva headed in a late winner to hand the Soweto giants maximum points on the road. The result ended Chiefs’ four-match winless run in the PSL while also building on last weekend’s 3-1 victory over AS Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup.
After collecting three points, Amakhosi jumped a rung up the table to position three, overtaking rivals Orlando Pirates, who are now fourth. However, the Buccaneers could reclaim third spot should they at least draw with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
After Chiefs struggled to find the back of the net for the better part of the match on Friday, Da Silva rose from the bench to grab the all-important goal with two minutes remaining. But Kaze was not impressed with the way they executed themselves.
KAZE MAKES AN ADMISSION ABOUT CHIEFS
“Yeah, Sunday [against AS Simba], we had a very tough game mentally, physically. Today [Friday], it’s true that we were not at our best, but it’s a league, it’s a marathon,” said Kaze on SuperSport TV.
“You need to win even when you are not at your best. I remember a few weeks ago, there were some games where we had like 70 per cent possession, 20 shots on target, and we still didn’t win. It’s those games like on Friday, even if you are not at your best and you need to win to get the three points.”
Da Silva was coming from injury, and right on his return, he made a huge impact during the 10 minutes he was on the pitch after coming on for Glody Lilepo.
“We knew that Silva is a box striker, he is always there on the rebound, on the crosses,” added Kaze. “And because he was injured last time, we couldn’t give him more minutes. But he is a player we trust and know that he can give us a lot.”
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