WATCH: Kaze blasts Pirates’ ‘tricks’ after Soweto Derby demolition

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze pulled no punches following Amakhosi’s humbling 3-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates on Saturday in the Betway Premiership, accusing the Buccaneers of employing “dark arts” to see out the Soweto Derby.

𝗖𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗞𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯-𝟬 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 “𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀” 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

​Is this a fair critique of modern game-management, or is it a distraction from a performance that saw Chiefs fall 11… pic.twitter.com/bH6Bxccj1r

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) February 28, 2026

While Pirates climbed to the summit of the Betway Premiership, leaving Chiefs trailing by a massive 11 points, Kaze was left fuming at what he perceived as blatant time-wasting tactics from Jose Riveiro’s men.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Kaze took a sarcastic swipe at Pirates’ game management in the second half, specifically pointing out goalkeeper Sipho Chaine’s frequent medical breaks.

“I congratulate Pirates for the three points and for their tricks… falling down all the time,” Kaze remarked post-match. “Their keeper fell down five times and didn’t get substituted. It is experience.”

CHIEFS ‘PLAYED WITH FEAR’ – KAZE

Beyond the antics of the opposition, Kaze was brutally honest about his side’s capitulation in front of a sold-out FNB Stadium. Goals from Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa ensured a miserable afternoon for the Naturena-based outfit.

The Chiefs co-coach admitted that the magnitude of the occasion seemed to weigh heavily on his players from the first whistle.

“In the first half, we were not good at all. We played with fear; we were not pressing or defending every 50-50 ball,” Kaze lamented. “The only way to redeem ourselves is to pick up points and show what happened in the Derby was an accident.”

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON TECHNICAL TEAM

The defeat caps off a disastrous February for Amakhosi, who have now been dumped out of both the CAF Confederation Cup and the Nedbank Cup. With the league title now a distant dream, questions are inevitably being asked about the future of the Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef partnership.

When pressed on whether he remains the right man for the job, Kaze remained defiant but realistic.

“That is not up to me. I believe the coaches are here because they are trusted by management. It is true we have had a series of bad results, but I believe there are things that have worked in the last few months.”

Chiefs now face a massive mountain to climb to salvage their season, while Pirates march on as the undisputed kings of Soweto.