Chiefs Coach Calls For Balance Ahead Of Soweto Derby

JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off in the Soweto Derby on Saturday at FNB Stadium, a fixture known for its intensity, pressure and emotion.

Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze said his players will need to manage their emotions heading into the high-stakes clash.

Speaking to the media during the Soweto Derby press conference on Thursday afternoon at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, Kaze said the team should approach the match with the same mindset they apply to other league fixtures.

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“You spend the whole week trying to work on the pressure, which is different from other games where you need to show how important the match is. But in this kind of game, you need to have a good balance because when you are too excited, or the pressure is too much and you get scared, the execution and the idea of the game plan are not as quick as they should be,” Kaze said.

He added that emotional control will be key to implementing their tactical approach.

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“And that’s very important, to keep our emotions out of the game so we can really execute the game plan very well,” he said.

Chiefs will be aiming to close the gap on the top three, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United, who have all played more matches than Amakhosi, currently fourth on the Betway Premiership table.