Kaze: We Were Harsh On The Players

Photo Credit: Gallo Images/Sydney Seshibedi

Kaizer Chiefs climbed to second on the Betway Premiership League log table after their hard-fought 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants. 

Coach Cedric Kaze said they had to be harsh on the players at halftime for them to change the way they were playing.

Read: Chiefs Firmly In Title Race After Lilepo Stunner

Addressing journalists in a post-match press conference, Kaze said they didn’t play well in the opening 20-25 minutes, but that changed in the last 15 minutes, during which they scored the winning goal. 

“I would say that we started well the first 10 minutes of the game, but after that the performance was not enough good. We were very reactive to every ball, to every pass. We were weak in our, in our duels. We were not pressing the lines and we gave so much space to Marumo Gallants to play here in those 20, 25 minutes. We were a little bit better in the last 10, 15 minutes. That’s why, at the halftime, we were very, you know, very, very harsh on the players that we can’t accept that kind of performance for such a big team”, Kaze told the media.

The Kaizer Chiefs co-coach further stressed how he was glad that Glody Lilepo scored the winning goal and how he urged his players to play with more conviction.

“We need to go on the front foot, we need to press, we need to go higher, we need to go with conviction, we need to win the balls back very quickly. And the boys came back in second half very, very eager to press, to take their chances and to try to make things happen. And we are happy to go the three points and I would say as well that what a goal. It’s not a goal that you see everyday. I’m happy for Lilepo that he scored that goal because, you know, after his injury against Simba he was slowly coming back. There was a little bit pressure on him the last few weeks but he responded well, because you know that he’s a big player that can make the difference.

Talking about rotating the players in different games, the Burundian-born, mentor said that it is important because they are playing many games.

READ: Downs Midfielder Pens New Deal

“You know sometimes even when you don’t want to make rotation, it becomes a necessity. That’s why today we had to rotate a little bit without as well losing our balance. I’m pretty sure that the boys did well and as well those who came in the second half helped us, ” Kaze observed.

Amakhosi now shift their attention to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage game against Zambia’s Zesco United, whom they beat 1-0 last Sunday in Ndola,  Zambia. 

The game will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday at 15h30.

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