Fernando Da Cruz has spoken for the first time since being appointed Kaizer Chiefs head coach, returning to a club where he previously served as an assistant to Nasreddine Nabi in 2024. That stint lasted barely a week before he left to join the Moroccan national team setup, but the 46-year-old Frenchman is now back at Naturena with a clear mission. “I’m very happy to be here,” Da Cruz told the club’s media, emphasizing that Chiefs has always held a special place in his heart and that he has closely followed the team’s journey over the past two years. His immediate priority is forging a strong connection with the players and instilling a winning mentality, insisting that the journey ahead will demand hard work and unity but expressing confidence that the squad will rise to the challenge.
Da Cruz has already hit the ground running, bringing his own technical team with him as he begins his tenure. No new signings have been made yet, and he has not fully assessed the current squad, but changes are expected in the coming weeks. Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr. welcomed the coach, describing his arrival as the start of an exciting chapter and expressing belief that Da Cruz’s vision, combined with the passion of the supporters