Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has lauded the impact of assistant coach Cedric Kaze on the players at the club, praising him for improving each of them.
Kaze joined Chiefs in October as assistant to head coach Nasreddine Nabi, following the abrupt departure of Fernando Da Cruz, and has done more than coaching as he also acts as the translator for his boss before and after matches.
The Burundian is a highly skilled coach who is a Bachelor of Sport Science degree holder that has CAF and German Football Federation A Licenses, while he also won league titles with Burundi’s Atletico Olympic before handling Mukura Victory Sports of Rwanda.
Petersen praises Cedric Kaze’s impact
Kaze knows Nabi well, having served as his assistant during his two-year stint at Tanzanian champions Yanga between 2021 and 2023, and when Da Cruz left, the veteran tactician moved with speed to recruit him due to his multiple talents and skills.
Now, Petersen says the assistant coach has added value to the players while improving the kind of football they now play.
“Very humble guy, good person to work with. He is not just translating with the coach, he is a very big football brain, and understands the game very well,” Petersen told Afrik-Foot.
Are Chiefs playing ‘tiki-taka’ football?
“When you speak football to him, you can see he has a big football background. He gives you that confidence playing in small spaces, tiki-taka football like they call it.
“He adds that to the team where he shows and gives players that courage to show them that they can play in the small spaces and the pockets you know. So, very good working with him.”
One Chiefs player said to be benefiting from Kaze’s coaching is midfielder Sibongiseni “Ox” Mthethwa, whose upturn in form has coincided with the arrival of the Burundian, and there is hope that others will also improve.
