Kaizer Chiefs' appointment of head coach Fernando Da Cruz has been questioned by a club legend over concerns about the depth of research into his football philosophy. Former defender Tshepo Masilela voiced his doubts on the Soccerbeat podcast, drawing a parallel to Ruben Amorim's troubled spell at Manchester United.
Masilela, who played for Chiefs and Bafana Bafana, suggested the club may not have done sufficient homework on Da Cruz's tactical approach before bringing him in. He pointed out that the Portuguese coach had not been in charge of a prominent African club like Pyramids FC or Yanga SC, where his methods would have been more visible.
"Another thing is it's not like Da Cruz was coaching a Pyramids FC or a Yanga SC and we got to see how he sets up his team," Masilela said. "That maybe brings me to question whether the club did their homework on how he plays and if that will fit the culture the club prefers."
He referenced Amorim's insistence on a back-three system at Manchester United despite calls for change, which ultimately cost him his job. Masilela sees a similar willingness in Da Cruz to stick to his principles, though he notes the current team is not defensive and is scoring goals.
The comments come as Kaizer Chiefs sit fourth in the Premier Soccer League with 13 points from seven matches. They remain unbeaten with three wins and four draws, having scored 12 goals and conceded seven. Their recent form shows a pattern of draws, with a 1W-4D-0L record in the last five outings, including a 0-0 stalemate with Golden Arrows last weekend.
Masilela acknowledged the attacking intent, singling out winger Pule Mmodi's role. "When I look at the way they set up, I don't think they're defensive," he said. "He could say he's playing a winger a wingback in Pule Mmodi but also his team is scoring but the mistakes at the back always disappoint them and sees them drop points."
The team's solid start has them seven points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. They will look to improve on that when they host seventh-placed Stellenbosch in their next fixture on 17 October. Supporters can check the full standings and the upcoming fixtures. Da Cruz will be looking to turn more of those draws into wins as he seeks to prove his philosophy is the right fit for Amakhosi.
First reported at Briefly News
