Da Cruz Praises Chiefs' 'Amazing' Mindset After Sundowns Draw

JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs may have been denied victory by Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday, but coach Fernando Da Cruz left the pitch encouraged by the attitude and resilience of his players.

Amakhosi were held to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Betway Premiership clash after Langelihle Phili opened the scoring in the second half, registering his first goal for the club. Sundowns responded through substitute Cassius Mailula, who levelled the contest, but neither side could find a decisive second goal.

For Da Cruz, the result was particularly impressive given the demands placed on his squad.

“We played a draw against a big team like Sundowns. We had a good game. I would like to congratulate the players, because it was our third game in six days, and their mindset was amazing,” the Chiefs coach told the media after the match.

The congested fixture schedule forced Da Cruz to make tactical adjustments, with Chiefs lining up in an unfamiliar 5-3-2 formation.

The system was designed to limit the space available to Sundowns’ possession-based approach while giving Chiefs opportunities to attack on the counter.

The tactical switch appeared to unsettle Sundowns, with coach Miguel Cardoso later acknowledging that his team had been confronted with a different tactical challenge from the one they had prepared for.

Da Cruz explained that injuries had also influenced his decision-making, leaving his technical team with limited options after just two days to prepare for the encounter.

“We had injuries, and we had only two days to prepare the game, so we had to find a solution for the team,” he said.

The Chiefs coach was particularly pleased with the performances of Thabo Moloisane and Pule Mmodi, who were handed rare opportunities in the starting line-up.

Moloisane made his debut, while Mmodi also stepped into the starting XI, and both players made a positive impression against the reigning African champions.

“We also had two players who didn’t play a lot in the starting eleven, Thabo Moloisane and Pule Mmodi, and they made a very good game. So I am very happy about the mindset of the squad,” Da Cruz said.

Chiefs defended more, but created chances

Sundowns enjoyed the greater share of possession and forced Chiefs into a largely defensive approach, something Da Cruz readily acknowledged.

However, he argued that possession did not necessarily translate into the better opportunities.

“Mamelodi Sundowns were in a position where we defended more than them, but we would like to have more of the ball,” he said.

“If we take hold of the game, we have bigger chances than Mamelodi Sundowns. Even if we don’t have a lot of the ball, we have bigger chances in the second half. We have two or three big chances to score.”

The draw also highlighted the considerable gap in experience between the two teams.

Da Cruz pointed out that Sundowns have maintained a largely settled core for six or seven years, while his own technical team has only been in place at Naturena for about a month and a half.

He therefore warned against drawing direct comparisons between the two sides at this stage.

For Chiefs, Saturday’s performance was more about continued development than proving they have already reached Sundowns’ level.

The result also extended a difficult recent record for Amakhosi against their rivals.

Sundowns have now gone 11 consecutive league matches unbeaten away to Chiefs, while Amakhosi’s wait for a home league victory over the Brazilians continues. Their last home win came five years ago, during the Covid-19 period when matches were played behind closed doors.

Despite the draw, Chiefs remain unbeaten at the start of the new league campaign.

The point followed victories over Kruger United and Sekhukhune United in their opening two matches, giving Amakhosi seven points from three games.

However, Orlando Pirates moved above Chiefs at the top of the table after beating Chippa United 3-0 over the weekend.

Chiefs will now turn their attention to their next league assignment, an away trip to Richards Bay, as Da Cruz looks to maintain the momentum of an unbeaten start while continuing to build a team capable of challenging South Africa’s leading sides.