Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral says the Soweto Derby win over Orlando Pirates could secure Fernando Da Cruz’s future at Naturena but has warned “it will be dangerous for the club” to use this traditional fixture as the only factor to seal the Frenchman’s fate.
Amakhosi clash with the Buccaneers at FNB Stadium on Saturday in what will be the giants’ first meeting of this season. After a five-game winless run, including elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup, Amakhosi managed to pick themselves up by beating TS Galaxy FC 3-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the Carling Knockout quarter-finals.
But the difficult run of form saw Chiefs losing ground in the Betway Premiership title race while their arch-rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates have been marching on. The Confed Cup exit, as well as the MTN8 failure, translated to two trophies already missed out by Amakhosi just two months into the 2026/27 season.
That has piled pressure on coach Da Cruz, with some doubting his pedigree to deliver trophies for Chiefs. The Frenchman now go into his maiden Soweto Derby hoping the TS Galaxy victory will spur his men against Pirates.
‘SOWETO DERBY WIN CAN CHANGE EMOTIONS OVERNIGHT, BUT WILL NOT SOLVE CHIEFS’ PROBLEMS’: ERTUGRAL
According to Ertuğral, Chiefs are grappling with underlying issues that a single Soweto Derby win cannot resolve.
“The Soweto Derby is never just another football game. I know what this game means to the fans, to the clubs and everyone involved,” Ertugral told FARPost in an interview.
“I must say I have a problem with calling one game a make-or-break situation for the coach. Of course, Fernando is under pressure. At Chiefs, expectations are enormous…But after so many changes in the technical part in recent years, the real question for me is: is the team progressing? Are the players responding to the methods and, even more importantly, is there a clear football identity developing?
“A derby victory can change the emotions, the mood in and around the team overnight, but it will not automatically solve the problems. As well, one defeat can not erase the work being done.”
CAN THE SOWETO DERBY BUY TIME FOR DA CRUZ? ERTUGRAL RESPONDS
Chiefs will face Pirates, who are on a four-match winning streak across different competitions. With pressure mounting on Da Cruz, Ertugral feels the coach could be safe if he wins, but warns that using the Soweto Derby to decide his future could be dangerous.
“What is for me a huge concern in today’s game is that we mostly demand long-term development but make decisions based on short-term emotions,” continued the Turk.
“Coming to Chiefs, coaches have to understand that patience is not unlimited at Chiefs. Progress must become visible in performances and results.
“For me, this derby may influence his future, but it should not be the only factor deciding it; it will be dangerous as well for the club. It’s impossible to build a proper project on Monday and abandon it because of what happens on Saturday.”
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