Ertugral Lashes Out: Kaze Can’t Use Stats To Defend Himself
Muhsin Ertugral has criticised Cedric Kaze, describing it as embarrassing after the Kaizer Chiefs co-coach presented statistics suggesting the club had improved after 18 league matches this season.
Kaze had also suggested that some critics have agendas against the team, but Ertugral dismissed the argument, saying:
“I don’t think that a top team needs to explain performance from statistics.”
Another former Chiefs coach, Ernst Middendorp — who, like Ertugral, had two spells in charge of the club — said Chiefs remain a “monster club” despite their recent struggles.
His comments come after Amakhosi suffered four consecutive defeats.
Chiefs were first beaten by Al Masry SC in the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, a match in which they only needed a draw to progress to the knockout rounds.
They then lost to Stellenbosch FC in the league before suffering a humiliating Soweto Derby defeat to Orlando Pirates, who thrashed them 3–0 late last month — the first time in 25 years that Pirates had beaten Chiefs by that margin in the league.
Richards Bay also claimed three points against Chiefs in KwaZulu-Natal, a result that saw Amakhosi slip to sixth place on the table.
Frustrated supporters later marched to Naturena, demanding answers from the club and calling for co-coaches Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef to be dismissed.
Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr. has insisted that the club must finish in the top two to qualify for the CAF Champions League under Kaze and Ben Youssef.
However, with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates currently battling for the league title, Chiefs’ chances of finishing in the top two appear increasingly unlikely.
Ertugral, who guided Chiefs to the African Cup Winners’ Cup title in 2001, said Kaze’s decision to highlight statistical improvements was misguided.
“Honestly, I found today’s press conference quite embarrassing,” said Ertugral.
“When a big club needs statistics at a press conference to convince people that things are improving, the problem is already obvious.
“I don’t think that a top team needs to explain performance through statistics. Statistics tell you what happened, and they are very useful.
“But they don’t tell you why it happened, and they never tell you what was missing. Statistics can help us observe football, but they should never make us forget that the game is played by people and emotions.
“Numbers should support football knowledge, not hide the absence of it.”
Chiefs will look to halt their losing streak when they host high-flying Durban City FC at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
