Da Cruz explains benching Kaizer Chiefs star: ‘He has a lack of understanding’

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has revealed Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro has a lot to do before featuring regularly for the Soweto giants.

The 25-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns striker has made just five appearances for the club across all competitions without a goal. The last time he played for the club, domestically, was against Golden Arrows in the Premier Soccer League.

He has since missed PSL games against Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates respectively, as well as the Carling Knockout fixture against TS Galaxy. There were questions asked about the towering forward, with Kaizer Chiefs‘ forwards struggling to score.

Da cruz insists the West African will have to work harder to fit into the system before being played as he wishes.

Ighodaro is NOT ready

“Ighodaro is 25 years old, so it’s difficult for him to assimilate the way we play,” Da Cruz said in a presser.

“At the moment, he has a lack of understanding of the game-model. We work with him, and he could be another solution, but right now he’s not ready.”

Da Cruz further explained why he needs Amakhosi players to be at their best physically.

“When we play teams like Orlando Pirates, we have to be well physically because it’s a team that has a lot of intensity. We saw it at the end of the game where we dropped physically, and they were able to press the accelerator with freshness. So we must be ready,” he concluded.

Khanyisa Mayo is also close to making a return to the Kaizer Chiefs team following his lengthened period on the sidelines with an injury.