Da Cruz Sends Clear Message Ahead Of Sundowns semi-final 

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz insists his side are targeting a place in the Carling Knockout Cup final despite being drawn against Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals following their victory over Siwelele.

Amakhosi secured their place in the last four of the competition and will now prepare for a challenging encounter against the Brazilians, with the date and venue for the semi-final yet to be confirmed.

The upcoming clash will be the second meeting between Chiefs and Sundowns this season, following their draw in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium earlier in the campaign.

The other Carling Knockout Cup semi-final will see defending champions Orlando Pirates take on Stellenbosch FC, who lifted the trophy in 2024.

Despite acknowledging Sundowns’ quality, Da Cruz believes matches of this magnitude will help his team develop. However, he insists their ultimate objective is to secure a place in the final.

“We wanted to reach the semi-finals, and we knew that whoever we faced would be a big team, whether it was Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch or AmaZulu,” he said.

“We know it will be a difficult match, but these are also the kinds of games that allow us to grow as a team. We need to play these matches to continue improving.

“However, we will go into that game with the intention of qualifying for the final.”

Da Cruz reflects on Chiefs’ victory over Siwelele

Meanwhile, Da Cruz also reflected on his team’s performance against Siwelele, admitting that Chiefs made life difficult for themselves after scoring their second goal by becoming cautious and allowing their opponents to apply pressure.

The French coach described the situation as a possible ‘fear of winning’, while insisting that his players deserved their place in the semi-finals after producing a series of good performances without always getting the results they deserved.

“It was a match we knew would be difficult. We conceded a goal very early from a set-piece, but afterwards, we tried to play our game and get back into the match,” he added.

“We had a good first half. Unfortunately, we missed a penalty, but we could also have scored one or two more goals. Despite being behind, we maintained a good tempo and played at the right intensity. It was important for us to continue in that way.

“In the second half, we started well and had a good 20 to 25 minutes. However, after that, we started losing the ball more often, had less control and struggled to dictate the game.

“After scoring the second goal, we dropped deeper. We also made things difficult for ourselves because perhaps we were afraid of conceding another goal. We might have had a fear of winning, which caused us to drop back.

“But I am happy for the players because they deserve this. They have been playing good matches for a long time without always getting the rewards. I am pleased that they have finally been rewarded.”

Chiefs turn attention to Betway Premiership return

Chiefs will now enjoy a two-week break during the FIFA international window before returning to competitive action on 28 November.

Amakhosi will resume their Betway Premiership campaign with an away encounter against Chippa United in the Eastern Cape as they look to build on their cup success and maintain their momentum heading into the remainder of the season.