Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has delivered his verdict on drawing Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, insisting that facing the Chloorkop outfit is the exact high-stakes test his side needs to mature.
Da Cruz’s troops were pitted against the Chloorkop outfit during the semi-final draw on Sunday evening, setting up a blockbuster clash following Amakhosi’s 2-1 victory over Siwelele FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The other semi-final fixture will see defending champions Orlando Pirates take on Stellenbosch FC away from home.
Addressing the media post-match in Polokwane, Da Cruz acknowledged that to reach a major cup final, his men must be prepared to face the continent’s heavyweight teams along the way.
WHAT DA CRUZ SAID ON DRAWING MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
“I said before that we knew that we wanted to qualify for the semi-final, and if we qualify, we will play a big game,” Da Cruz told journalists. “But I said as well, we need this type of game because our team needs to grow up, and with this type of game, our team will go up.
“So it’s a very good game for us, and we will play this game for sure to be qualified for the final.”
Chiefs sealed their spot in the last four after mounting a resilient comeback against Siwelele. The Soweto giants suffered an early setback when defender Siyabonga Ndebele put Siwelele ahead in the 11th minute from a corner kick.
Despite Mduduzi Shabalala missing a penalty five minutes before the break while trailing 1-0, Chiefs stayed the course. Goals from Wandile Duba and Asenele Velebayi in either half turned the tie around to secure the victory.
DA CRUZ PLEASED WITH TEAM’S PERFORMANCE AFTER SIWELELE WIN
Reflecting on the match, the French tactician expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s display, though he noted areas where they could have killed off the game sooner.
“We made a good first half. We conceded the first goal from the corner very quickly,” Da Cruz explained. “But we continued to play our model game. We missed one penalty, but we scored after another penalty. Normally, we deserved to come back from the dressing room at halftime with one or two more goals.
“In the second half, it was good for the first 20 minutes. But when we scored the goals, we started to drop, and we were a little bit afraid to concede one goal. Still, I’m very happy about the performance and that of the team to reach the semi-final. I want to congratulate the players because we deserved the win.
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