Assistant coach Cedric Kaze urges Kaizer Chiefs to stay grounded after perfect start

Kaizer Chiefs are enjoying a dream start to their Betway Premiership campaign, but second assistant coach Cedric Kaze has warned the team against getting carried away. Chiefs have won their first two games on the trot since the start of the league season last weekend, beating Stellenbosch and Polokwane City

The two matches, played last Sunday and Wednesday, saw Chiefs register back-to-back clean sheets, winning 2–0 and 1–0 respectively.

It has been a fantastic start to the season for Amakhosi — so much so that some staunch supporters are convinced the club will return to their best this season.

But while the technical team and players would want nothing more than to build on last season’s Nedbank Cup triumph, Kaze has called for calm.

―It’s true that we are confident, but we need to temper the excitement,‖ Kaze explained.

―It’s still only the second game of the season, and there are still 28 games to play.

―So, we still have a long, long way to go and a lot of things to work on. I would say we look more like a team than before — in every aspect.

―You can struggle and not play well, but even in moments of weakness, we are there as a team, helping each other.

―That’s what I have noticed, especially at the start of this new campaign.‖

Chiefs’ impressive start to the season has come despite the absence of head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who had to return to Tunisia last Friday for a family emergency. And while Nabi’s right-hand men, Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, have received most of the plaudits for the bright start, Kaze says they are in constant contact with the head coach.

―I would say that we are always in contact with the head coach, but he trusts our knowledge and experience,‖ Kaze said.

―We are the people on the field every day, so we feel the vibe on the pitch. We see everything — including who trains well and who can do what.

―He trusts us to make the line-ups, but as the head coach, he’s always informed about who starts on the day.‖

Central defender Aden McCarthy has been the cornerstone of Chiefs’ strong start, earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards.

While Kaze has been impressed by the 22-year-old’s growth and progress, he highlights the importance of keeping a healthy dressing room and working equally with all the players.

―When you have such a big group, the most important thing from the technical team should be fairness,‖ Kaze said.

―If the players feel you are fair, then trust will follow, because we try to involve everyone

— including those in the stands.

―We try to talk to them every day and show them that this is a long season. There’s the CAF Confederation Cup, the league, the Carling Knockout, and the Nedbank Cup.

―So, everyone is required to contribute and be ready, raising their hands and stepping up all the time.‖

With the league a marathon — ending in May after 30 rounds of matches — Kaze says working under ―peaceful conditions‖ will aid their aspirations this season.

―The victories and clean sheets give you time to work peacefully and easily, because people are more confident and happier,‖ Kaze said.

―But we need to know we haven’t arrived. We are still very far from where we want to be.

We still have to work very hard, and I am sure we’ll get it right if we pull in the same direction.