To the casual observer, a major tournament spent entirely on the bench might look like a missed opportunity. However, Cedric Kaze believes Bradley Cross’ “zero-minute” campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is actually a massive win for both the player and Kaizer Chiefs.
Cross was the only Amakhosi player at the World Cup after muscling his way into coach Hugo Broos’ South Africa squad. His inclusion in the squad for the global football tournament came as Chiefs players have been struggling for places in the national team.
While Cross made the final squad, goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, right-back Thabiso Monyane and midfielder Lebohang Maboe were in the provisional selection. This was after a season in which the Soweto giants finished third on the Betway Premiership table behind champions Orlando Pirates and runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns.
With the Chiefs players being considered for national duty ahead of the quadrennial global football competition, it could be something they might build on in the new season. But Kaze has zoomed in on Cross, who made the final cut.
Despite Cross not featuring in a single match at the World Cup, being an unused substitute in all four of Bafana’s games, Kaze sees just going to the World Cup as a milestone for the defender. The Chiefs star could not get game time as coach Hugo Broos preferred to start Sundowns left-back Aubrey Modiba. There was also Norway-based Samukele Kabini as another option on the left side of defence.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR KAIZER CHIEFS’ BRADLEY CROSS TO BE AT THE WORLD CUP WITH BAFANA BAFANA
Bafana’s World Cup campaign ended at the Round of 32 stage after playing four games and were eliminated by co-hosts Canada.
Speaking exclusively to FARPost, Kaze—who worked closely with Cross during his stint on the technical team at Naturena—shed light on the hidden value of the defender’s time in North America. While many see an unused substitute, the Burundian tactician views the tournament as a massive catalyst for the player’s mental game.
“I will say the World Cup is an event that comes after four years, and it’s the most beautiful world event above all the other sports,” Kaze, who recently joined Sekhukhune United as head coach, told this publication.
“I’m pretty sure that the experience that he [Cross] is going to get from this World Cup, the confidence that he is going to come back with, the self-belief, and to have been able to be in this squad, at this competition, even if he did not play, will help him as well as his club”
IMMERSED IN HISTORY: CROSS WITNESSES BAFANA’S HISTORIC KNOCKOUT MILESTONE
Being part of that group also meant Cross was fully immersed in the high-pressure environment of football’s ultimate showpiece. By taking his place on the bench for all four matches, the left-back was an integral part of a history-making Bafana Bafana squad.
Hugo Broos’ men created a historic milestone in North America by navigating the group stages of an expanded World Cup for the very first time. South Africa progressed from Group A as runners-up behind co-hosts Mexico, finishing ahead of South Korea and the Czech Republic.
After dropping their opening match to Mexico, Bafana fought back to secure a crucial draw against the Czech Republic before sealing their knockout spot with a dramatic victory over South Korea, only to bow out to co-hosts Canada.
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