Kaze: When We Don’t Win, There Is Pressure
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze has highlighted the importance of keeping clean sheets in Amakhosi’s consecutive wins, following their victory against Polokwane City on Wednesday.
This marks the second time in a row that Amakhosi have kept a clean sheet, having done so in their opening league match against Stellenbosch on Sunday.
According to Kaze, keeping a clean sheet is crucial for the team’s success, as it gives them breathing room and allows them to work without pressure.
“We know that especially when you’re a big club like Kaizer Chiefs, it gives you time to walk in peace,” Kaze said.
“When you don’t win, then there’s a lot of pressure, and that’s why those points, three points, and victories give you time to work more.
“It’s a more easy way because people are happy, but we need to know that we haven’t arrived and we are still very, very far to be where we want to be.”
This season’s strong start is a marked improvement from last season, when Chiefs struggled to keep clean sheets.
In the first two games of last season, the 2025 Nedbank Cup champions conceded two goals against Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu, and went on to concede a total of 32 goals in the league, scoring just 25.
Kaze attributed the team’s defensive solidity to the work of their young defender Aden McCarthy, who won two man-of-the-match awards in a row.
“I would say that the one who is handing the Man of the Match is making our life very difficult because he’s going to think he’s entitled to get the Man of the Match every match now,” Kaze joked.
“But it’s good for him – he’s a very, very nice kid. Very professional in the way he conducts himself, inside the field and outside. Especially another thing I can say about him, he is a player who listens a lot.”
Kaze also praised McCarthy’s ability to learn from more experienced players like Zitha Kwinika and Inacio Miguel.
“He’s always with Zitha and Miguel, the type of players he knows their experience can help him. I’m sure, without injuries, he will go far; he is a player with quality.”
The team’s success, according to Kaze, depends on everyone working towards the same goal. “But I’m sure that if everyone is out in the same direction, then we’ll get it right.”
Amakhosi will now prepare for their next league game against the KwaZulu-Natal-based side Richards Bay at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Chiefs will be aiming to continue with their winning ways, while Natal Rich Boys will be looking to find their first victory of the season, as they lost both their opening league matches against Marumo Gallants and Golden Arrows.
