- Kaizer Chiefs suffered a 1-0 defeat to Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup in Zambia on Saturday
- Da Cruz criticised his team's first-half display, pointing to a lack of aggression and intensity in the duels
- A football analyst has placed the blame squarely on the coach in an exclusive chat with Briefly News
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has spoken out after Amakhosi fell to a 1-0 defeat against Red Arrows in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie in Zambia on Saturday, acknowledging serious shortcomings in the team's performance.
The decisive blow came from a corner kick in the 76th minute at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, leaving Chiefs with a deficit to overturn when they host the Zambian side in the return leg.
Da Cruz Points to Slow First Half
Da Cruz singled out the opening 45 minutes as the root of the problem, conceding that his side failed to match the physicality and tempo the occasion demanded.
"We played a slow first half with no aggression, we were not in the duels and in the second half it was better even though we didn't create a lot of chances," the coach said.
Chiefs showed signs of improvement after the break but could not fashion enough clear-cut opportunities to threaten the Red Arrows goal before conceding from the set piece that proved decisive.
Analyst Blames Da Cruz for the Defeat
Football analyst Uche Anuma, speaking exclusively to Briefly News, was more direct in his assessment, placing responsibility for the result firmly on the coach.
"Kaizer Chiefs deserve to lose the match, because they were not good enough in Zambia, and I would blame Fernando da Cruz for that," Anuma said.
He also warned that the scoreline could have been far more damaging had Red Arrows been more clinical in front of goal.
"There's a way he sets up his team that I don't understand, Amakhosi could've been three goals down in the first leg if the home side had taken their chances," Anuma added.
Despite the criticism, Anuma expressed hope that the team would respond when the tie returns to South African soil.
"I hope they come correct in the second leg when they host the Zambian side in South Africa," he said.
Chiefs now face the pressure of overturning the result at home to advance to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages.
Source: Briefly News
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