Junior Khanyi told the media about Fernando Da Cruz poor decision

Kaizer Chiefs legend Junior Khanye has raised serious concerns about the tactical approach of head coach Fernando Da Cruz, particularly following the team’s latest performance. Khanye believes the coach still has significant areas to improve, especially when it comes to team selection, attacking combinations and making timely changes during difficult matches.

According to Khanye, Da Cruz’s decision to start Mfundo Vilakazi, Luke Baartman and Faiz Abrahams in the same attacking lineup created confusion rather than providing Kaizer Chiefs with a clear attacking structure. He questioned the decision to play without a recognised natural number nine, arguing that the players appeared to be moving around without a defined role or clear reference point in the final third.

Khanye also questioned the timing of introducing a new attacking combination in such a demanding fixture. In his view, combinations should be carefully considered based on the opposition, previous performances and the strengths of individual players. He suggested that the coaching staff should have taken lessons from Kaizer Chiefs’ previous match against Mamelodi Sundowns when preparing for the latest encounter.

Another major point raised by Khanye was the late introduction of experienced players, particularly Mduduzi Shabalala. He argued that Shabalala’s experience and ability could have provided the team with greater control and creativity earlier in the match.

While Khanye’s comments are critical, they highlight the pressure on Da Cruz to find the right balance between developing younger players and relying on experienced members of the squad. Kaizer Chiefs have shown promising moments under the new coach, but consistency in tactical decisions remains an important part of their development.

Ultimately, Khanye believes the responsibility lies with the technical team to identify what went wrong, learn from the mistakes and ensure that similar tactical issues are not repeated in future matches. For Chiefs supporters, the expectation remains clear: stronger planning, better combinations and more decisive tactical changes when the team needs them most.