Kaizer Chiefs coach admits pressure to retain Nedbank Cup | OneFootball

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Chiefs boss on pressure to defend Nedbank title

Photo: Cedric Kaze

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has made an honest admission that there's pressure to retain the Nedbank Cup title.

The Glamour Boys beat fierce rivals Orlando Pirates to the crown last season to end a decade-long trophy drought under the guidance of Nasreddine Nabi, who has since left the club.

Chiefs will kickstart their title defense with a clash against Stellenbosch FC at the DHL Stadium on Wednesday, and Kaze admits his side has a target on the back as they look to keep the trophy.

“The pressure is there despite the fact that being champions is [pressure on its own]. A club like Kaizer Chiefs has pressure on a daily basis and that’s what comes with the badge and we know that the pressure is there and we will cope with it,” he said.

"It's a new season, it's a new tournament, it's true that we are the defending champions but we have to put all that aside and do the work from the beginning because being defending champions won't make anything easier, although it's going to make it even more difficult.

"Everyone wants to beat the defending champions but we know what's at stake. We know that expectations are very high and we are going against a very good team of Stellenbosch - new coach as well but it's a coach that been in this league for so many years with great achievements and experience.

Stellies knocked Chiefs out of the Carling Knockout Cup this season, intensifying the rivalry that has brewed between the two teams, but the Burundian insists the looming tie is not a revenge match.

“It's true that Stellenbosch eliminated us in the Carling Knockout Cup, that's the beauty of these knockout games because you can tell that in that game in the Carling Knockout Cup, we were the better team on the field and controlled the whole game,” Kaze added.

"We had many opportunities to score but unfortunately we lost on penalties, that's the beauty of the game - even when you play little you can expect a big reward. But there is no revenge in football, it's just another game that we need to prepare thoroughly and try to have a good performance.