A stern halftime address from coach Cedric Kaze propelled Kaizer Chiefs
to a 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants, a result that lifts Amakhosi to
second spot on the Betway Premiership log.
Following a sluggish first-half display, Kaze revealed he was “very, very
harsh” with his players during the break, demanding a reaction worthy of the
club’s stature.
“We started well for the first 10 minutes, but after that, the performance
was not good enough,” Kaze told reporters in a post-match press conference.
“We were reactive, weak in duels, and gave Gallants too much space. We were
better in the last 10-15 minutes of the half, but we can’t accept that kind
of performance for such a big team.”
The critical intervention worked. Kaze urged his side to play with more
conviction, pressing higher and winning the ball back aggressively. The
players responded after the restart, creating the moment that decided the
match—a spectacular winner from Glody Lilepo.
“I’m happy for Lilepo,” Kaze said. “What a goal; it’s not one you see every
day. After his injury, there was some pressure on him, but he responded like
the big player he is.”
Kaze also addressed the need for squad rotation due to a congested fixture
schedule, noting it was a “necessity” to keep the team fresh without losing
balance.
With three crucial points secured, Chiefs now turn their focus to
continental duty. They will host Zesco United in a CAF Confederation Cup
group stage match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday (15h30), looking to
build on their 1-0 away win against the Zambian side last week.
