Chiefs and Stellies’ emerging cup rivalry a healthy sign for SA football - Kaze

Chiefs knocked out Stellies in the quarterfinals last season on their way to lifting the Ke Yona cup, their first piece of silverware in 10 years. 

It was Stellies’ turn to dump Amakhosi out of a tournament this season, when they beat them on penalties in the Carling Knockout last 16 round. 

Kaze says these results are part of South African football’s growth.

"I would say that it's true that these past seasons there have been very good challenges between the two teams with great football performances on the field and games that have resulted in a very good rivalry,” Kaze said.

“I believe that's what you can say is that South African football is growing because you can find other teams that can challenge the teams that are supposed to be big. The more we have teams that challenge each other, the more the league grows and football in general in South Africa grows."

READ: Latest on John Maduka’s future at Magesi FC

Results in the league, in particular, and other competitions have shown that Chiefs have improved this season, and Kaze says this is down to finer details in how the team is applying itself tactically and technically.

"Every team, the players need clarity. It's a very important thing, when players have clarity, when players know the tactics. The tactics are not about how you play but to understand or to make them understand and make them believe that these are our weaknesses and these are our strong points then let's play on our strong points to try to minimize our weaknesses,” the coach explained. 

“For example, last season conceding a lot of goals on crosses, a lot of goals on setpieces, a lot of goals on counterattack and transition. Now everyone knows how we set up and that setpieces are important. 

“How when we have the ball we need to be more careful by having a defense that is dynamic and well structured to not allow those counterattacks and transitions. That's one of the things I would say that you show the players then they believe in what you are showing and they see that it works and that gives them more confidence and buying into the project."