Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has broken down Gavin Hunt’s direct blueprint at Stellenbosch FC, highlighting the difference between the team that eliminated them from the Carling Knockout Cup and the side they are set to face in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32.
The Soweto giants face the Maroons at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening as they kick off their bid to defend the Nedbank Cup. This is a trophy they clinched last season to end a decade-long trophy drought, with former coach Nasreddine Nabi guiding them to this piece of silverware.
They now face Stellenbosch, a team that denied them a major trophy earlier this season. The Cape Winelands side knocked Chiefs out of the Carling Knockout at the last 16 stage in October 2025.
Stellenbosch triumphed 5-4 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time. Kaze said they dominated that match in Cape Town while asserting he would prefer the same intensity from his side on Wednesday.
But back then, Stellenbosch were under Steve Barker and now Hunt is in charge. Kaze breaks down how their opponents pose a new test from the team Amakhosi faced last October.
WHAT SHOULD CHIEFS EXPECT FROM STELLIES THIS TIME AROUND? KAZE OUTLINES HUNT’S PHYSICAL RETHINK
“The game that we played against Stellenbosch in the Carling Knockout, we were the best team on the field. The stats are there to acknowledge it,” said Kaze, responding to FARPost.
“We were in control of the game, they were never dangerous to us, we had so many opportunities to score. I’ll say that we just need to repeat everything, from the intensity, put the technical accuracy, being a dynamic team.
“We know that the coach at Stellenbosch now plays a physical game, long balls, crosses into the box, setpieces, we need to deal with all of that. But we need to play our game, we need to be dynamic, we need to be on the front foot, to press, play very quickly and to be effective in front of the net.”
CHIES NOT INSPIRED BY REVENGE IN TRIP TO STELLIES
Kaze says while they are accustomed to dealing with the pressure of representing the Soweto giants, they will not go into the Stellenbosch match thinking of revenge.
“There is no revenge in football, it’s just another game that we need to prepare for thoroughly and try to have a good performance to expect a very good result,” the Burundian said.
“The pressure is there despite the fact that we are the [defending] champions, a club like Kaizer Chiefs has pressure on a daily basis. That’s what comes with the badge. We know that the pressure will be there and we will cope.”
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