Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has shed light on midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa Bitegeko’s limited game time since arriving at the Soweto giants at the start of the season.
The 27-year-old Tanzanian international has featured just three times for Amakhosi across all competitions. His lone start came during the 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows in the MTN8 quarter-finals in August.
Since then, Bitegeko has been restricted to two brief second-half substitute appearances against Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City FC, spending most matches either on the bench or watching from the stands.
Addressing Bitegeko’s slow integration, Da Cruz admitted that arriving late in the club’s pre-season preparations delayed his transition into the team’s tactical system.
DA CRUZ SPEAKS ON BITEGEKO’S ADAPTATION AND TACTICAL INTEGRATION
“It’s related to his adaptation in South Africa because he arrived a bit late during our pre-season,” Da Cruz explained. “He needs time to adapt to our game model.”
Despite his slow start, the French tactician assured that Bitegeko remains an integral part of his plans, promising a larger workload following the international break.
“I trust him a lot, and after the FIFA break, he will play a lot of games. We will need everyone, and Adolf will get his minutes during that period.”
KAIZER CHIEFS COACH FERNANDO DA CRUZ HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT SQUAD
With the Betway Premiership transfer window closing on September 21, Da Cruz reiterated overall satisfaction with his current squad, though he left the door open for high-value additions.
“I am happy about the squad, but if there is one big opportunity, maybe we will take it,” Da Cruz noted through conditioning coach and translator Julien Le Heran. “We don’t want to sign a player just for the sake of it. For the moment, I’m happy with the squad depth.”
While acknowledging frustration over recent dropped points—including a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City—Da Cruz remains confident in the club’s trajectory: “We are disappointed with the results, but we are on the right track with how the players are adapting to our game model.”
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