Is Kaizer Chiefs’ Da Cruz next? Seven PSL coaches sacked!

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz is a man under pressure and his position could come further under the spotlight on Friday if his team exits the CAF Confederation Cup.

Chiefs face Zambian side Red Arrows in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round at the Moses Mabhinda Stadium but the Glamour Boys are trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

If Red Arrows hold onto their lead or win in Durban, it will spell the end for Chiefs’ continental ambitions even before they reach the group stages and that could be a huge disappointment that might cost Da Cruz his job.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz during a past training session. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

Da Cruz has already overseen just one win in seven games and his team head into Friday’s match on the back of three draws and a loss. Anything other than a win against Arrows could make his position untenable.

Catalogue of worrying issues at Chiefs

Chiefs have not indicated whether they are looking at a coaching change but exiting two cup competitions by October and being nine points behind Premier Soccer League (PSL) leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, even with a game in hand, is not what they signed up for this season.

Having finished third in 2025-26, their best in the last six years, it was hoped that Da Cruz would kick on from there but the Soweto giants look to be regressing.

Sibongiseni Mthethwa of Kaizer Chiefs playing against Red Arrows. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

The football is not inspiring, the defence cannot spot conceding, the forwards are not scoring and before his injury, the goalkeeper was making costly errors.

A catalogue of worrying issues that only positive results can help paper over. Therefore, if Da Cruz does not win on Friday, he might be left feeling like he could be the eighth coach to be sacked in the PSL this season.

PSL sackings a warning to Da Cruz?

Since the season started, it is now two months and three weeks but already, seven coaches have gone. Golden Arrows are the latest, sacking the highly-rated Pitso Dladla and replacing him with Mandla Ncikazi on Thursday.

Golden Arrows sacked coach Pitso Dladla. Image: Golden Arrows

Dladla had won just one of their eight PSL games and his dismissal came just days after TS Galaxy cast aside Chiefs legend Bernard Parker and installed Bosnian Admir Adzem this week. Parker had won just one game in seven, the same situation Da Cruz finds himself in.

Before that, Richards Bay had unveiled Bulgarian Nikolaev Pantev to replace Ronnie Gabriel during the September international window just days after Durban City sacked ex-Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef and lured Eric Tinkler back to South Africa.

Focus on Naturena as clubs act ruthlessly

Former Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. — Former Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef have been sacked by PSL clubs this season. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

In early September, Marumo Gallants sacked Phuti Mohafe after two draws and three losses while a 3-2 defeat to Chiefs in the same month saw Siwelele FC relieve Lehlohonolo Seema of his duties.

Another Chiefs co-coach Cedic Kaze was the first to bite the dust this season when Sekhukhune United sacked him just one month into the job, having overseen four matches.

For Da Cruz, the writing is on the wall but he can change the narrative with a positive outcome in Friday’s clash.