Junior Khanye has questioned whether Kaizer Chiefs FC's unbeaten start under Fernando Da Cruz is built on a style capable of winning trophies. The former Amakhosi winger believes the French coach's defensive focus is holding the team back, despite them sitting fourth in the Premier Soccer League with 13 points from seven games.

Khanye's criticism centres on a perceived lack of attacking ambition. He pointed to the recent 1-1 draw with Polokwane City as evidence, where Brandon Petersen's own goal cancelled out Lebohang Maboe's first-half strike. "For me, the coach is not good enough," Khanye said. "I don't think there is any trophy that he is going to win for Kaizer Chiefs." He argued Da Cruz is overly concerned with not conceding, often deploying a five-man defence that stifles the team's natural attacking instincts.

Club context and response

This public critique comes as the club handles internal pressure to challenge for honours. Football manager Bobby Motaung has demanded the team compete for major trophies this season, a directive Da Cruz is acutely aware of. The coach has himself acknowledged defensive issues, stating the need to correct a lack of leadership and character in the backline after recent matches where they conceded chances. Supporters, however, have praised the more solid defensive structure implemented since his July appointment, which has yielded three wins and four draws in the league.

The team's form shows a pattern of resilience but also draws. Their recent sequence reads DDWDD, with the latest result a goalless stalemate away to Golden Arrows. A key factor in their solidity is their league-leading performance in goal minutes, having conceded only seven goals in 630 minutes of play. They have scored 12 goals and conceded seven across the campaign, leaving them seven points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the current standings. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Stellenbosch FC at FNB Stadium, a match listed in the club's fixtures as another opportunity to prove their unbeaten run has substance beyond mere caution.

Midfielders like Lebohang Maboe, Sphesihle Ndlovu and Sibongiseni Mthethwa have been credited with providing control in the engine room. The challenge now is to translate that foundation into more consistent victories. Da Cruz's task is to balance defensive security with the attacking verve required to close the gap at the top and silence the doubters. The team prepares for the Stellenbosch clash aiming to extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches.

First reported at Briefly News