Da Cruz on Kaizer Chiefs' BIG headache despite win over Scottland: 'We suffered a lot!'

Kaizer Chiefs concluded their pre-season with a slim 1-0 victory against Scottland FC in the Toyota Cup fixture played on Sunday.

The lone strike by Mfundo Vilakazi in the first half was enough to hand the Premier Soccer League heavyweights the victory at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. It was an encouraging ending for the Soweto giants ahead of a busy 2026/27 edition.

Kaizer Chiefs players celebrate 2026 Toyota Cup win. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

However, despite the many chances that the Glamour Boys created, a lack of composure in attack cost them the opportunity to get more goals.

Amakhosi have Flavio Da Silva – who started the game, Etiosa Ighodaro, and injured Khanyisa Mayo. Coach Fernando Da Cruz has conceded that concern and promised to find a lasting solution.

Da Cruz on Chiefs’ weakness

“We have a good defensive structure, but offensively, for the moment, it’s the part where we take most of the time to work and improve, and we are working towards that, but it’s our process, it’s our [intention] to improve offensively,” he said as quoted by SABC Sport.

Ethan Chislett of Kaizer Chiefs playing against Scottland FC. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“This game was very good preparation before we start the season in the Betway Premiership next Saturday because we suffered a lot, we ran a lot, and physically also.

“And I’m very happy for this game because now we need to rest and then start preparing for the next game in a couple of days,” he added.

Vilakazi lauded

The Amakhosi coach has further lauded the 20-year-old Vilakazi who was effective in the final third. He opened up on how he plans to use the versatile attacker.

Mfundo Vilakazi of Kaizer Chiefs in action against Scottland FC. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“It depends in which area of the pitch we are, it depends also on the structure of the opponents as well as our game model, so we asked the wingers to stay wide and sometimes drift inside,” Da Cruz continued.

“Vilakazi is an interesting player for me because he can also play as a winger or a forward or striker, so it’s very interesting and I like to have a player like this in my squad who can play in different positions.

“And it does not mean that because he played as a winger today that he can’t play as a forward or striker in the next games,” Da Cruz concluded.