Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz believes there is still significant room for improvement in their attacking department as they prepare for the start of the new Betway Premiership season.
Amakhosi wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 victory over Zimbabwean champions Scottland FC in the Toyota Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Sunday. Mfundo Vilakazi scored the decisive goal in the first half, cutting inside from the wing before finding the back of the net to secure Chiefs a positive result ahead of their league opener.
Despite the win, Da Cruz identified the team’s offensive output as an area requiring further attention, with Chiefs having made limited additions in attack during the transfer window.
The club’s only major attacking reinforcement has been the permanent signing of Khanyisa Mayo following his loan spell, with the French coach admitting that building greater efficiency in the final third remains a priority.
“We have a good defensive structure but offensively, for the moment, it’s the part where we take most of the time to work and improve, and we are working towards that, but it’s our process, it’s our (intention) to improve offensively,” Da Cruz said, after the match.
Chiefs will begin their Betway Premiership campaign away against newly promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, and Da Cruz believes the physical challenge posed by Scottland provided ideal preparation for the season opener.
“This game was very good preparation before we start the season in the Betway Premiership next Saturday because we suffered a lot, we ran a lot, and physically also,” he said. “And I’m very happy for this game because now we need to rest and then start preparing for the next game in a couple of days.”
Vilakazi was one of Chiefs’ standout performers, earning the Player of the Match award after operating effectively from a wide position and scoring the winning goal.
The 20-year-old has been identified by Da Cruz as a versatile option who can provide solutions in several attacking roles, rather than being restricted to a winger position.
“It depends in which area of the pitch we are, it depends also on the structure of the opponents as well as our game model, so we asked the wingers to stay wide and sometimes drift inside,” Da Cruz explained.
“Vilakazi is an interesting player for me because he can also play as a winger or a forward or striker, so it’s very interesting. I like to have a player like this in my squad who can play in different positions. And it does not mean that because he played as a winger today, that he can’t play as a forward or striker in the next games.”
With the season now days away, Da Cruz will hope his side can maintain their defensive organisation while continuing to find greater attacking rhythm as Chiefs look to build on their third-place finish from last campaign.
