Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has pinpointed a critical weakness in his forward line, despite watching his side secure a 3-2 victory over Siwelele FC in the Betway Premiership at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday night.
While Amakhosi preserved their unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership campaign, the French tactician was far from satisfied with how his attack managed the contest in the absence of marquee winger Langelihle Phili.
The 21-year-old forward, who completed a high-profile move to Naturena from Stellenbosch FC, is currently sidelined for up to eight weeks after suffering a severe ankle injury in training last month.
While providing an update on Phili’s recovery progress, Da Cruz insisted that the main problem facing his side has little to do with missing personnel or creating chances, but rather a glaring issue inside the eighteen-yard box.
PHILI PROGRESSING IN REHABILITATION
Da Cruz confirmed that Phili has entered the next phase of his recovery after being sidelined for ten days. And while the loss of the former Stellies star temporarily strips Chiefs of width and 1v1 threat, Da Cruz remains confident in the depth of his squad.
“He is an important player for us, for that we signed him,” Da Cruz stated. “For the moment, he didn’t work during 10 days and now he’s starting his rehabilitation.
“Technically it’s a good player, a player who is able to make deep runs, a player who is able to eliminate in 1v1 also. But also we have other players, we work, we trust in them.”
DA CRUZ IDENTIFIES CHIEFS’ MAIN PROBLEM
Despite maintaining their unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership campaign, Da Cruz insists the squad’s primary challenge isn’t creating chances, but killing off games when in control.
Chiefs led comfortably against Siwelele through strikes from Mfundo Vilakazi, Wandile Duba, and an own goal, but allowed their opponents back into the contest during a tense second half.
“We create chances, it’s not the problem,” Da Cruz explained. “Our main issue is we are not enough killer inside the box.
“In the first half, we are not killers. We don’t come back with two or three goals more than the opponent. In the second half, we are a little bit worried, a little bit afraid on the field, and we let the opponent come back. So it’s our main issue today [Sunday].”
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