A coach who formerly worked for the Orlando Pirates believes that the defensive issues that the Kaizer Chiefs are experiencing could be attributed to a lack of quality and experience in certain areas of the team. Under the direction of head coach Fernando Da Cruz, Amakhosi have adopted a cautious approach, frequently employing a number of players with a defensive mindset in order to limit the attacks of the opposition. On the other hand, this strategy has not been successful in preventing the Soweto club from allowing costly goals, particularly from possession shots.

The Kansas City Chiefs have continued to struggle with the fundamentals of defending dead-ball situations, despite the fact that they place a significant emphasis on defense. Their shortcomings were once again brought to light during the first leg of the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup, which took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, against Red Arrows FC of Zambia from Zambia.

Although the Chiefs were able to frustrate their opponents for a significant portion of the game, a routine corner kick ended up being the deciding factor. Alassane Diarra was able to score from close range because the Amakhosi defense was unable to deal with the initial delivery and had difficulty clearing the second ball. The Chiefs were left feeling disheartened after a match in which they had exerted a great deal of effort to restrict the opportunities available to their opponents. Red Arrows went on to win the match by a score of 1-0. The team has become more and more reliant on a conservative tactical system since Da Cruz took over as head coach. It has been questioned by both critics and supporters whether or not employing as many as seven or eight players with a defensive mindset is the appropriate strategy, particularly in light of the fact that the team continues to make costly mistakes at the back.

Owen Da Gama is of the opinion that the issue may be related to the level of expertise possessed by the players who are available and their prior experience successfully navigating challenging circumstances.

"I believe that it is also related to the quality of the product. According to what Da Gama shared with KickOff, "it always comes down to quality and experience."

As a result of his comments, it appears that the presence of a greater number of defensive players on the field does not necessarily make a team more difficult to score against. In addition, players are required to properly deal with set pieces, communicate effectively, and understand the responsibilities that are assigned to them. While this is going on, Jomo Sono has issued a warning to Kaizer Chiefs, stating that the club runs the risk of following the same path as Jomo Cosmos if it does not address its challenges. Sono expressed concern about the future of Amakhosi and warned that poor decisions could have serious consequences. At the same time, Sono described Kaizer Motaung Snr as a good friend. In the event that the situation at the club does not improve, he warned that the Chiefs might be relegated and eventually move down to the ABC Motsepe League.

Concerns about the club's current situation are heightened by Sono's warning, which adds to those concerns. Concerns have been raised regarding the path that the Chiefs are taking, despite the fact that they continue to be one of the most prominent football institutions in South Africa. Their performances and ongoing difficulties have brought about these concerns.

Both the coaching staff and the players will need to work together to find solutions to the defensive issues that they are experiencing, particularly with regard to corners and other positional elements. In order for the Chiefs to improve their results in domestic and continental competitions, it may be beneficial for them to improve their organization and decision-making skills. This will help them avoid making additional costly mistakes.

https://www.kickoff.com/psl/kaizer-chiefs/owen-da-gama-questions-quality-in-kaizer-chiefs-defence-1