Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz believes the Amakhosi’s 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Cup can mark the start of a more confident run for his side.

The win at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night ended a five-match winless streak in all competitions and sent the Glamour Boys into the quarter-finals. It also came just days after their early exit from the CAF Confederation Cup against Red Arrows.

Wandile Duba was the star of the night. The young striker scored a rapid second-half hat-trick to secure the result. He opened the scoring shortly after the restart when he turned home a cross from Pule Mmodi. He added a second from the rebound after Mfundo Vilakazi’s penalty was saved, before completing the treble a few minutes later with a clinical finish from Mduduzi Shabalala’s through ball. The three goals arrived in roughly 18 minutes.

Speaking after the match, da Cruz highlighted the difference in efficiency. “Today we made a good game, but sometimes we made a better game, and we didn’t win,” he said. “I hope that now it’s the starter for us to keep confidence and we continue on this way.”

He added that the team has confidence in its playing model but has struggled to turn performances into results. “We’re having confidence in our model game but not in the efficiency. Since this evening, we’re going to recover and we will prepare the game for this Saturday.”

That next fixture is the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates at the same venue. The positive result against the Rockets gives the side a timely boost heading into one of the biggest games of the season.

The victory also held extra meaning for Chiefs. It was their first cup win over TS Galaxy, the side that famously beat them in the 2019 Nedbank Cup final. Brandon Petersen and Lebohang Maboe returned to the starting line-up after injury layoffs, while Rushwin Dortley made a rare start in defence.

For da Cruz and the players, the clean sheet and clinical finishing offered a clear reminder of what the team can do when chances are taken. With the quarter-finals now in sight and the derby around the corner, the coach hopes this performance becomes the foundation for the consistency the side has been missing.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2115188003840614697