Kaze blames Chiefs players for Confederation Cup exit – ‘We didn’t have the right attitude’

Kaizer Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze feels his team can only blame themselves for their CAF Confederation Cup elimination following their heartbreaking exit on Saturday.

Chiefs crashed out of the competition after losing 2-1 away to Zamalek with another Egyptian side Al Masry sealing the other quarter-final ticket despite Amakhosi having 10 points.

The Soweto giants needed a draw to make it past the group but after a goalless first half, they conceded twice in the second stanza and even a late goal did not help their cause.

Kaze says the loss is a result of his team’s poor attitude as he feels they gave Zamalek too much respect and allowed them to boss the game.

Kaze explains how Chiefs lost it

“I would say it is a big disappointment for us,” Kaza said as quoted by KickOff. “We invested a lot of time and effort in this competition. We tried everything that we could.”

“But I believe that today we didn’t get in the game with the right attitude and the right mentality. “Because l feel like we restricted the opponent a lot and gave them time and space to create, especially in the first half, even if it ended 0-0,” he added.

“But I believe that we respected them a lot and we ran a lot behind the balls. And that takes a toll on the physicality.”

Amakhosi pick vital lessons

The Burundian coach feels his team allowed in easy goals that they could have avoided had they been vigilant and now hopes that they learn from their mistakes going forward.

“The first goal that we conceded in the second half coming from a runoff ball. The second goal too is avoidable,” he said. “It is a big disappointment for us, but that is football. We need to take lessons from that and move on.”

Chiefs will now turn their attention to league matches as it is the only competition left for them to contest after also suffering Nedbank Cup elimination early this month.

The Glamour Boys have to regroup quickly as they take on Siwelele FC on Wednesday February 18 and must win given they are already eight points behind leaders Orlando Pirates, who have played one match more.