Beaten 1-0 in Ndola, Fernando Da Cruz’s Kaizer Chiefs must overturn the deficit against Red Arrows in Friday’s second leg in Durban. The French coach, criticised by his supporters, has announced major tactical and personnel changes.
Fernando Da Cruz is under orders to respond. The French coach of Kaizer Chiefs went down 1-0 on the pitch of Red Arrows in Ndola, Zambia, in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Mali international Alassane Diarra, a Red Arrows midfielder, scored the goal in the 76th minute with a header from a corner taken by Ackim Mumba, according to FARPost.
The setback stretches the Glamour Boys’ winless run to four matches in all competitions. In the Betway Premiership, they had drawn three in a row against Polokwane City, Golden Arrows and Stellenbosch FC (1-1). The second leg is scheduled for Friday 23 October 2026 at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Vilakazi: the decision that angered the fans
The withdrawal of winger Mfundo Vilakazi in the 71st minute crystallised the supporters’ discontent, with fans accusing Da Cruz of naming an ultra-defensive line-up, Goal.com South Africa reports. The coach justified the substitution by saying his player was suffering from muscle fatigue. “Mfundo Vilakazi was tired, so we wanted a fresh player. It wasn’t after Vilakazi came off that our team conceded a goal. It was simply a corner,” he said.
Da Cruz refuses to link his decision to the Zambian goal. Instead he points to his team’s lack of cutting edge. “The pressure has been there since day one, there’s pressure every day, and we put ourselves under pressure. But we simply lack efficiency, and we need to put more weight when we attack, but we just have to work on that, and it will turn in our favour,” he told FARPost.
A treatment room still crowded
Kaizer Chiefs’ treatment room remains crowded, with the prolonged absences of Langelihle Phili, Brandon Petersen, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Lebohang Maboe. Thabiso Monyane also had to leave his team-mates injured as early as the 30th minute in Ndola, replaced by Thulani Mabaso, according to Goal.com South Africa.
Against that backdrop, Da Cruz announced, according to FARPost, major tactical and personnel changes as he attempts to turn the situation around.
A three-goal target for the Zambians
On the other side, Red Arrows head coach Chisi Mbewe said after the match that his initial aim was to score three goals against Kaizer Chiefs, Goal.com South Africa reports.
Kaizer Chiefs must therefore overturn the 1-0 deficit from Ndola in the second leg in Durban on Friday 23 October, in front of supporters already critical of their coach’s choices.