Kaze: I Will Have A Heart Attack
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has urged the club’s supporters not to turn their backs on the team, insisting that the technical staff are working tirelessly to improve results.
Chiefs were watched by a sparse crowd as they edged past Durban City 1–0 in a Betway Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The Soweto giants had to dig deep in the closing stages to secure the victory as the Durban-based side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with one effort dramatically cleared off the line.
The win ended a four-match losing streak for Chiefs in all competitions — a poor run that prompted angry supporters to march to the club’s headquarters in Naturena, demanding that Kaze and his co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef be dismissed.
The duo have also faced criticism from several former Chiefs coaches, including Stuart Baxter, Ernst Middendorp, and Muhsin Ertugral, all of whom had two spells with the club and won trophies during their tenures.
“I understand the frustration,” said Kaze.
“My message to the fans is that we are not sleeping. We know they deserve better and want better things. The best way to support the team is to continue showing that you want improvement, even during these difficult moments, and to try to come to the stadium.
“We know that when they are behind us, they become the 12th man, and we feel more energy with them.”
With Chiefs under pressure in the closing minutes of the match, Kaze admitted his players neglected a basic game-management principle — keeping possession and running down the clock.
“I believe that, as young as I am, if that happens again, I could have a heart attack,” he said with a smile.
“We need to take better care of the ball. We need to understand which part of the field we are in and also understand the time of the game.
“In those moments we didn’t manage the ball well enough. We kept looking for transitions and maybe taking an extra touch, which led to losing possession. These are things we will continue to work on to improve.”
Chiefs will now look to build on their first league victory since January when they host bottom-placed Magesi FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium, which serves as their alternative home venue, on Saturday.
