Kaze’s honest admission after Chiefs’ smash-and-grab victory

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze delivered a refreshingly honest assessment after his side’s dramatic 1-0 win over Durban City FC in the Betway Premiership on Friday night, admitting the performance was “not up to standard.”

Substitute Flavio Silva was the unlikely hero for Amakhosi, rising late in the game to nod home the decisive goal at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night. The Portuguese-born forward’s 88th-minute header secured a crucial three points, ending Chiefs’ frustrating four-match winless streak in the Betway Premiership and pushing them temporarily up to third place on the log.

The Toll Of The Continental Grind On Kaizer Chiefs

Despite entering the match with confidence following their midweek CAF Confederation Cup triumph, Chiefs struggled to find fluidity throughout the 90 minutes. Kaze pointed to the demanding schedule and recent continental travel as factors affecting the team’s energy.

Speaking after the match, the Chiefs mentor told SuperSport TV that the players were spent.

“Sunday, we had a very tough game mentally, physically,” Kaze explained. “Today it’s true that we were not at our best, but it’s a league, it’s a marathon you need to win even when we’re not at our best.”

Kaze underscored the importance of securing maximum points even when playing poorly, contrasting the result with earlier dropped points this season.

“I remember a few weeks ago there were some games we had like 70% possession, 20 shots on target, [but] we didn’t win the game. It’s those games like today—you’re not at our best—and you need to win to get the three points.”

Silva: The Box Striker Kaizer Chiefs Needed

The winning goal came just minutes after Kaze made two impactful changes, bringing on Gaston Sirino and goal-scorer Silva. Kaze expressed confidence in Silva’s ability to deliver in the penalty area.

“We knew that Silva is a box striker,” Kaze stated. “He’s always there on the rebound, on the crosses. He was injured last time, so we couldn’t give him more minutes. But it’s a player that we trust and he can give us a lot.”

The victory moves Chiefs to 19 points, three behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who face their own massive challenge against fourth-placed Orlando Pirates on Saturday.