Da Cruz questioned about Chiefs star: ‘Why only bring him on in the second half?’

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has been slammed for making a decision that could have cost the team in the CAF competition on Friday.

Amakhosi hosted the Red Arrows of Zambia in the second half of the second preliminary round hoping to get a favourable result to advance. They lost 1-0 in the initial meetings; the two ties ended 1-1 in aggregate before the Soweto giants fell 3-2 on penalties to crush out.

Ex-Chiefs attacker Junior Khanye has questioned the decision to start Sibongiseni Mthethwa when Lebohang Maboe was available after recovering from an injury suffered days before the recent FIFA international break.

Why bench him if he is fit?

“I was surprised to see Maboe on the team list why didn’t he start him and [opted to] start Mthethwa?’ asked Khanye on iDiski TV.   

“Why only bring him on in the second half, start him isn’t he fit? I mean if he’s able to come on in the second half it means he’s also fit enough to start, play him. Last time the coach experimented with Reeve Frosler and the [Thulani] Mabaso kid.

“You can tell the boy doesn’t play regularly but you could see he hardly lost the ball and played forward passes. I mean Mthethwa, it shows that they have an average squad hence I’m not surprised they are out of the competition.

I’m disappointed with certain players

The former winger has further explained why he feels some players shouldn’t be part of the Glamour Boys.

“The coach believes in the likes of [Pule] Mmodi who I don’t think gives the team anything,” he added.

“I’m very disappointed with certain players like Mthethwa, [Faiz] Abrahams. Honestly, they are players who can’t play, even Mmodi, they are players who can’t play there. Even [Inacio] Miguel, they can’t,” Khanye concluded.