Kaze: Stable line-up and players returning from injury have fueled consistency

By Velile Mnyandu
13th April 2026

For the first time this season, Kaizer Chiefs have registered four wins in a row in the Betway premiership, and co-coach Cedric Kaze says the consistency in line-up, boosted by players returning from injuries, have played a big part in this turnaround.

Kaze was speaking after a convincing 2-0 win over struggling TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium yesterday, a game also interrupted by lightning.

Goals from Guinea-Bissau international striker Flavio Silva and DRC international attacker Makabai Lilepo made the difference on the day.

Coming off a run of three straight losses in the league, Kaze is satisfied with the turnaround…

"The consistency in the recent results comes from the consistency in performances and the consistency in the line-up. I am the first to understand why we struggled a few weeks ago when we had like three defeats in a row. It was a very unfortunate situation where we had so many injuries that you couldn't keep the same line-up for two games, but today you saw that Ox is coming back, Given Msimango has also played two consecutive games.

"All the players coming back from injury creates more competition at training and everyone is pulling in the same direction."

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Chiefs finished last season outside the top eight with just 32 points from 28 games, and now, after only 22 matches, they have collected 42 points, 10 more than last season and they currently occupy third spot.

Kaze reacts to this good turn around; despite the slight setback they had last month.

Another positive for Chiefs is on the goal front. At the beginning of the year, there were some concerns with their scoring rate, something they have rectified in the last four matches by scoring eight goals.

Kaze pinpoints the positive work behind this and the influence of their game model...

"We have a game model that we've been working on. Specifically, the ways to get inside the box, the ways to create 2v1 situations and the ways to overload either side of the field.

"I believe that we understand one another better and there is greater understanding between the players themselves. That gives more opportunities to score goals."

Another big positive for Chiefs from this game was the return of their captain and number one goalkeeper, who had been recovering from an appendix surgery.

With just less than two months before the FIFA World Cup, Peterson’s return boosts Chiefs’ chances of possibly having a player in the Bafana Bafana squad, judging by coach Hugo Broos’ recent comments about him.

Kaze says his return is also good for the team considering the tough run-in they have.