“Probably More Fresh Legs”: Kaze Blames Derby Fatigue For Siwelele Loss
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze admitted, in hindsight, that he should have made more changes to refresh the team after their loss to Siwelele on Wednesday.
Siwelele ran Chiefs ragged in a dominant 2-0 display at Toyota Stadium, leaving the Soweto giants looking second best throughout.
The match came just days after an emotionally charged 1–1 Soweto Derby draw against Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The derby, given its significance in South Africa, demands a great deal of mental and physical exertion from players due to its prestige.
Against Siwelele, Chiefs made three changes—two of them forced due to workload—as Siphesihle Ndlovu and Bradley Cross were replaced by Thabo Cele and Paseka Mako, while Mduduzi Shabalala returned in place of Sibongiseni Mthethwa.
“When the game is done, you have a lot of questions. You ask yourself whether you should have made more rotations,” Kaze said on SuperSport TV.
“Probably more fresh legs and fresh minds—but it is the job of a coach to anticipate that. We need to focus and be better in our next games.”
Kaze conceded that Chiefs were simply second best against Siwelele, who punished them on the counterattack. Former Chiefs winger Tebogo Potsane and Siphesihle Jeza netted first-half goals to punish a sluggish Amakhosi defense
With some improvement after the break, Chiefs looked slightly better in the second half but still failed to seriously test Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss.
“I would say we were not there in the first half,” Kaze said.
“In every aspect—starting from the build-up to our offensive and defensive play—when you are not at your best, you get punished.
“Our reaction was too late, and that is what we spoke about: getting over the derby and concentrating on this game because it was always going to be a tough one.
“We arrived at the game too late, and that is how it unfolded. We believe this is one of the key areas we need to improve.
“It is about consistency in our mindset and our behaviour going forward.”
Despite the defeat, Chiefs remain third in the Betway Premiership table with 47 points after 26 matches, already surpassing last season’s tally.
They will next travel to face Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.
