Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Cedric Kaze heaped praise on substitute Flavio Da Silva after the Portuguese striker came off the bench to secure a vital 1-0 win over Durban City with a stunning 87th-minute header.
With the team heading for a fifth consecutive league match without a victory, Da Silva emerged as the hero. He connected powerfully with a Gaston Sirino cross, directing a superb header past the goalkeeper to snatch all three points at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The goal was Da Silva’s third in just four league appearances, underscoring his growing impact.
Kaze expressed his delight that the team’s faith in the player had paid off. “We know that Silva is a (penalty) box striker,” Kaze told SuperSport TV. “He is always there on crosses or on rebounds. He was injured … and we couldn’t give him more minutes. But he is a player we trust and who we know can give us a lot.”
The coach admitted that his team was far from their best, attributing their sluggish performance to the mental and physical toll of last weekend’s CAF Confederation Cup victory. However, he emphasized the importance of grinding out results even on an off day.
“Today we were not at our best but the league is a marathon and you need to win when you are not at your best,” Kaze stated. He described the win as “very important” for building momentum and closing the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to just two points.